Tiong (right) handing over the Best Swimmer trophy in Boy’s E to Timothy Wong at last weekend’s Sibu Invitational Age Group Championship as (from left) organising chairman Dr Toch Teck Hock, Kuo and Sasa secretary Tony Hii look on.
SIBU: A feasibility study is being carried out to have the Bukit Lima Swimming Pool here roofed, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King disclosed last weekend.
He said he had already written to the State Government for funds.
“We’re calling for tenders for the structural design of the roof.
“Hopefully … we will be able to get the project started by next year,” he added.
Speaking at the closing of Sibu Invitational Age Group Swimming Championship, he noted that an open-air swimming pool was not ideal to hold activities due to the unpredictable weather.
“We do hear complaints from the people that the hot weather is causing damage to their skin complexion and apparently, this has scared away many youngsters from taking up swimming as a hobby,” he continued.
Other divisions especially Kuching, he stressed, already have several roofed pools.
Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa) chairman Oliver Kuo welcomed the announcement as the right step towards promoting swimming in Sibu.
“I am confident that Sibu will return to its heydays when Sibu swimmers used to rule the pool once the roof over the swimming pool comes into reality,” he said.
He noted that many parents had wanted their children to swim, but shied away from the sport because of hot weather.