MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO INFORM THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE THAT THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE’S FIRST PHASE OF THE AQUATICS CENTRE PROJECT, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN NOVEMBER 2010, IS COMPLETE. ON MAY 28TH 2013, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE BERMUDA NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE (NSC) ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF THE ISLAND’S FIRST FIFTY (50) METER SWIMMING POOL, WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN THE BERMUDA NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE PREMISES ON FROG LANE, DEVONSHIRE PARISH.
THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE AQUATICS CENTRE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 13TH.
MR. SPEAKER, THE FRESH WATER POOL IS FITTED WITH A MOVEABLE BULKHEAD TO ALLOW EITHER EIGHT (8) LANES OF FIFTY (50) METRES OR SIXTEEN (16) LANES OF TWENTY-FIVE (25) METRES ALONG WITH A DIVING TOWER WITH DIVING BOARDS AT THREE (3), FIVE (5), SEVEN POINT FIVE (7.5) AND TEN (10) METERS.
MR. SPEAKER, THE POOL WAS DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO MEET THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF THE FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE NATATION (FINA), THE WORLD GOVERNING BODY FOR THE FIVE AQUATIC DISCIPLINES OF SWIMMING, DIVING, WATER POLO, SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING AND OPEN WATER SWIMMING.
MR. SPEAKER, THE POOL DESIGN PLAN WAS SUBMITTED TO FINA A FEW YEARS AGO AND WAS APPROVED FOR DIVING AND SWIMMING IN ONE POOL. I AM PLEASED TO ADVISE HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK, A SURVEYOR’S REPORT WAS SENT TO FINA FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE BERMUDA AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION (BASA) ON BEHALF OF THE NSC TRUSTEES.
SURVEYOR’S TESTS WERE DONE ON THE LENGTH OF EACH OF THE 8 LANES OF THE POOL AS WELL AS THE ELEVATION FROM EACH DIVE PLATFORM TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. ALL MEASUREMENTS WERE SPOT ON AND CONFORMED TO THE DESIGN PLAN. CURRENTLY, THE NSC IS AWAITING OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION FROM FINA.
MR. SPEAKER, THE FACILITY HAS PROVIDED TEN JOBS FOR BERMUDIANS INCLUDING EIGHT (8) LIFEGUARDS, WHO WERE TRAINED LOCALLY BY A TRAINER FROM THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, AND FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL JOBS WILL BE ADDED DURING THE SUMMER. THE OPENING OF THE AQUATICS CENTRE WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO DO, BUT ALSO ALLOWS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND FITNESS LEVELS TO GET AND REMAIN ACTIVE.
MR. SPEAKER, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE NSC TRUSTEES IS TO USE THE NEW FACILITY TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING AND BERMUDA AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION AFFILIATED CLUBS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS WILL HELP TO ATTRACT THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST IN WATER SPORTS SUCH AS WATER POLO, SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING AND DIVING IN BERMUDA, AS PRESENTLY NO CLUBS ARE IN EXISTENCE ON THE ISLAND THAT OFFER THESE PURSUITS.
MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTRE FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY BETWEEN 7AM UNTIL 7PM AND ON SUNDAYS FROM 7AM TO 5PM DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. AT THIS TIME WINTER HOURS WILL BE BASED ON DEMAND. TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE NSC AQUATICS CENTRE THE FOLLOWING ENTRY FEES WILL BE CHARGED: - $15 FOR ADULTS; $12 FOR 13 TO 18 YEAR OLDS AND SENIORS (AGE 65 AND OVER); AND $8 FOR AGES 6 TO 13. FAMILY TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR $32 FOR TWO (2) ADULTS AND UP TO FOUR (4) CHILDREN, BASED ON ALL RESIDING AT THE SAME ADDRESS. MULTI-PACK SWIM PACKAGES OF TEN TICKETS AND MONTHLY PASSES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE. WHEN THE FLOATABLE DEVICES ARE IN USE FOR PUBLIC SESSIONS, ENTRY FEES WILL BE HIGHER.
MR. SPEAKER, IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORMER MINISTER OF YOUTH, FAMILIES AND SPORTS, GLENN BLAKENEY, J.P., M.P. FOR SPEARHEADING THE NSC AQUATICS CENTRE PROJECT. IT IS OUR PLAN TO NOW WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE NSC BECOMES SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM, AND DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THAT REGARD.
