Academy next step after Learn to Swim programme

…As Easter programme comes to a close

Newfound skills were displayed and the way forward for new swimming talents in the country was mapped out on Saturday morning when the annual Easter Learn to Swim programme came to a close at the National Aquatic Center at Liliendaal, ECD.

In excess of 2000 children, over the past two weeks, were taught the life skill of swimming at the Easter version of the programme, hosted by Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC).
While the programme is primarily used to teach the skill to children between the ages of 6 and 18, a brand- new path has been forged to get more children in to the sport. According to Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., new talents will be encouraged to take up the National Swimming Academy and other available Sport Academies the country has to offer.

“The Ministry and the Nationals Sports Commission are going to take a much larger role and presence in getting people into our Academies now, because we have hired the coaches, we’ve hired the organizers, we’ve provided the facilities and the equipment to all of the twelve core sports,” Ramson explained.
The Sport Minister added, “Now, we want you to benefit because, in order for you to have our athletes and our children get to the podium, many more of them have to be part of the programme.”
Meanwhile, Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, after highlighting the incident- free zone that the programme was, labelled it as a promise delivered to parents.
“Something stands out this morning to me, and it is the fact that the relationship that you parents and swimmers are having with the NSC is growing stronger. The fact is that we’d asked you to place your trust in us, and we had told you that we will create and maintain a safe environment for your young children. We’ve had over 2000 persons registered, and the underlying word is that our promise was kept,” Ninvalle remarked.
Also touching on the topic of safety was Deputy Chair of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Cristy Campbell, who went on to commend the officials involved for their contribution.
Campbell shared this with the parents and children gathered, “The first thing I wish to do is commend the coordinator, all of the coaches, and support staff that undertook this very important Easter camp. And the reason that I wish to commend you is because we have an increase in numbers by at least 3 or 4 times our initial number at last year’s camp.
“I must say I’m quite pleased that we haven’t had any incident. The conclusion of this camp sees no incident, and that, I believe, should be commended,” Campbell added.
In addition to the grand closing ceremony, children had the opportunity to show off their newfound skills in the pool. Meanwhile, the NSC took the opportunity to present swimming boards to two swim clubs from the Pomeroon and Linden.