Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Nov 13: A community level international Olympic standard swimming pool worth Rs 24.94 crore will be inaugurated at Yemmekere on November 24 by chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah, informed speaker U T Khader on Monday November 13.

Addressing media, Khader said, “The CM will also inaugurate the three-day 19th National Masters Swimming Championship 2023 on November 24, in association with Karnataka swimming association. District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao will also be part of the event.

“The swimming pool complex has a competition pool with 50m length X 25 m width and a varying depth to be used as training pool of 25m length X 10 width X 2.2m depth. With the view to initiate children early in to competitive swimming, a kids pool of 13.8 length X 10 m width X 1.2 m depth has also been provided.

“The unique feature of this pool is its positioning at +7.0 m of deck level allowing for cars and two-wheeler parking at the basement as well as filtration unit under the pool bottom. This design also provides an opportunity to create mezzanine floor in which house dormitories for male and female competitors, gymnasium, changing rooms, toilets and lockers, administration office and spare for sports medicine and physiotherapy, anti-doping room and other requisite facilities for conducting international events.

The open to sky swimming pool has spectator seating with the capacity of 400 people and the opposite side of the spectator seating is designated for swimmers, officials, trainers and coaches. Two separate elevators are provided for accessing the higher level pool competition area and spectator gallery.

“The swimming pool is complete with underwater lighting, overflow channels, starting blocks, and the lane dividers. The elevation is made of locally available factory made terracotta, wire cut bricks, architecturally designed fins and other elements. However, the development work of the sports ground in front of swimming pool complex by providing flood light facilities for cricket/football arena and small spectator seating area will be taken up shortly. In coming days, Yemmekere swimming pool will be developed with shopping complex, cafeteria and many more.

“So far, 700 have registered for the 19th national masters swimming championship 2023. More than 150 officials will be taking part in the event,” he said.

Former MLC Ivan D’Souza, former MLA J R Lobo, corporator Shashidhar Hegde and others were present.