Gozitan waterpolo club Otters Aquatic Sports Club have stressed the need for the construction of a Swimming Pool in Gozo.
The club was founded in 1971 and since 1981 has participated uninterruptedly in competitions organised on a national basis by the Aquatic Swimming Association of Malta.
This is a record participation at this level for a Gozitan sports organisation. Being the only waterpolo and swimming club in Gozo, Otters ASC feels that the construction of a fresh water, all year round, swimming facility in Gozo is long overdue.
The club said in a statement, that this promise has featured in the electoral manifesto of the party in Government since 1981, but unfortunately this has not happened yet. Such a pool will give a much needed boost to Gozitan swimmers.
It added: “It is sufficient to mention that they have to compete with Maltese swimmers who have benefited from such facilities for the last 14 years. It is equally important that all Gozitan citizens, being young and old, able bodied or with special needs, enjoy the same facilities as their counterparts in Malta. This disparity means that swimming and waterpolo in Gozo is largely restricted to the summer months.
To make matters worse, the infestation of jelly fish witnessed during the past three years has wrought havoc with the club’s preparations during summer itself. Age Group competitions, which are played on a home and away basis, have had to be cancelled or moved to a venue in Malta because of the presence of jelly fish.
The situation is so serious that the Swimming School held for children below the age of 11 has, ironically, often served to discourage children from entering the sea rather than to promote swimming. The only way forward is to provide adequate facilities in the shortest time possible.
The statement said that last March, Otters ASC submitted an outline application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to excavate an area besides its premises in Marsalforn to serve as a sea-water pool. Although the club is run on a very tight budget, it is determined to go ahead with the project even if it means that it has to fund it on its own.
Otters ASC appealed to the authorities to approve the said application without any delay so that this project will be in use by summer 2008.