Chandigarh Sports Department pools get overwhelming response

Around 35 days after reopening swimming pools for this summer season, 12 facilities under the UT Sports Department have received nearly 6,000 membership applications. While 4,600 members have been fully enrolled, 1,200 are yet to submit their fee to ensure their membership.

These figures exclude professional trainees, who get a preference membership, to train at these pools.

On April 1, the department reopened all 12 swimming pools for professionals as well as recreational swimmers. Only one pool was operational in the winter season. These facilities are located at the Lake Sports Complex, Sector 23 (all-weather and nursery pool), Manimajra complex, Sectors 8, 27, 34, 38, 39, 43, 50 and 56. Also, it was for the first time that the applicants submitted the fee online instead of making payments manually at the Sector 42 Sports Complex. Only the membership of the Lake Sports Complex facility can be obtained directly from the club.

“We have received an overwhelming response and all our facilities are open. We have also hired new coaches and attendants to run these pools,” said Sorabh Kumar Arora, Director Sports, UT Administration. The rush at these centres is likely to increase in the coming days when the schools and colleges announcing the summer vacations. Kids turn up in large numbers at the kiddies’ pools of a majority of the newly build sports complexes. “During the summer vacations, the pools usually remain full to capacity. Sometimes, the timings have to be rescheduled, so that everyone gets a chance to swim,” said an official at one of the swimming centres.

The pocket-friendly fee make these centres popular among the local residents. The six-month fee at the Sector 23 all-weather swimming pool is Rs 1,800 for students and Rs 3,500 for player/recreational swimmers. At the other facilities under the department, students are charged Rs 1,500, players Rs 3,000 and recreational swimmers Rs 3,300 for a period of six months.

Chandigarh