Swimming Federation of India: We are all geared up for a fresh start

The implementation of the ministry's guidelines is a top priority for the federation.

In line with the MHA order on Friday, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports issued the detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and guidelines for swimming pools to resume operations from 15 October 2020 for the training of sportspersons. The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) launched a video campaign to emphasize on the key guidelines.

They also communicated these guidelines to all the state units to ensure implementation of the SOPs as their top priority and work with the state governments / local authorities to facilitate activities to resume on 15 October 2020 outside containment zones.

The president of the Swimming Federation of India, R N Jayaprakash said, "Over the last few months SFI has been in constant touch with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and also the Ministry of Home Affairs for permission to reopen swimming pools in India for competitive swimmers."

"We were happy that with the support of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the permission finally came through with the unlock 5.0 guidelines released on 30 September 2020. On behalf of the swimming fraternity we thank the Ministries and the Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju for all the support in seeing our request through."

In anticipation of the SOP’s to be released, the Swimming Federation of India and its state units have been in touch with the state government authorities for resuming training of swimmers in the respective states from 15th October.

"As soon as the MYAS SOP for swimming was issued on Friday, we have circulated the document to all our state units. These guidelines are sacrosanct and we have encouraged all state units and Swimming centres in the country who train competitive swimmers to ensure these SOPs are implemented while they plan to resume training on top priority," stated Monal Chokshi, Secretary-General, SFI.

The video campaign launched by the Swimming Federation of India includes 10 key guidelines for ensuring a safe return to swimming activities. Chokshi remarked, "We have launched a video campaign highlighting the 'key elements' of the SOP for swimmers return to the pools which reopen next week. This easy-to-understand animated video will be promoted on social media handles, and we will send them to various Centres across the country to share with parents and swimmers."

In the following days, the federation will launch milestone initiatives that will have far-reaching results in the sport. Chokshi said, "In the coming days we will be announcing significant initiatives that will help develop the sport further."

"These initiatives were to be launched earlier in the year but due to Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdowns, the rollout of these initiatives had to be pushed back. But with the Ministry giving a go-ahead to restart competitive swimming, we all geared up for a fresh start," he concluded.