Ahead of the Men’s Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Stadium here next year, the State Government is all set to go ahead with massive infrastructural overhaul of the stadium to accommodate more spectators by demolishing the swimming pools in its premises.
However, scores of swimmers from different proficiency levels staged a demonstration in front of the swimming complex at the stadium to oppose the unilateral decision of the Government to demolish the pools to facilitate expansion of the hockey complex for which visitors’ galleries would be erected.
“How can the Government go ahead with its unilateral decision without making alternative arrangementsIJ Professional swimmers like me will be badly hit if they don’t get a chance to train for even a week. We demand that the Government roll back its decision without making alternative arrangements,” swimmer Pratyasha Ray said.
Notably, the Government has planned to demolish portions of the professional swimming pool and the diving pool to expand the gallery to increase the seating capacity which currently can accommodate only 10,000 visitors.
Over 200 members come to the pools every day in two shifts for training and fitness purposes.
When contacted, a Government official said the pools would be rebuilt by extending their lengths from other sides. The work may take some months.
According to sources, the Sports and Youth Services Department is mulling to provide logistic support to professional swimmers to train at the Odisha Cricket Association’s swimming pool in Cuttack.