Fears have been raised that the ongoing swimming pool problems at the National Sports Centre may impact on athletes’ preparations for the Island Games next year.
There is still no timeline for when repairs to damaged tiles in the pool will be completed.
And in Tynwald this week fears were raised concern this could have a knock-on effect on swimmers preparing for next year’s Island Games.
More than two years on, a problem with broken tiles in the swimming pool at the NSC in Douglas has yet to be resolved, a situation previously branded ‘absolutely ridiculous’ by Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse, who again sought an update this week.
Education Sport, and Culture Minister Daphne Caine told members her department was following the contractual process to resolve the matter ‘as swiftly as possible’.
She said she understood the public frustration at the lack of updates.
‘However, the discussions taking place under the terms of the contract are confidential, and I am therefore unable to comment further until that process has concluded,’ she added.
‘l remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached in the near future.’
The fault with the tiles was first identified in November 2023 and the issue has been raised on numerous occasions. More than £50,000 has been spent trying to verify the cause of the problem.
Assurance sought
Onchan MHK Rob Callister said he’d been contacted by a ‘number of groups’ of people trying to prepare for the Island Games in the Faroe Islands next year. He said there were rumours that once repairs finally got underway, the pool would have to close for eight months.
‘It is really important that either we dismiss this rumour or the minister clarifies that the pool will be shut for eight months,’ he said. ‘People need to prepare for the 2027 Island Games.’
The minister said: ‘Six lanes of the pool remain fully open, which enables swimming events and training to continue.
‘There are two lanes with five metres at one end that are cordoned off. In terms of the rest of the honourable member’s question, I do not have any information about that and, as I said, I will update members as soon as I have information to update about.’