A total of RM21mil was spent to upgrade the Wisma Belia Swimming Complex in Bandar Indera Mahkota, but the organisers still cannot get the diving facilities right.
The length of the diving platform on the higher level is supposed to extend out further by one metre in order to allow the divers to execute their routines without risking any serious injuries.
For example, the board for the 10m platform must extend out a metre above the 7m height but this is not the case at the Wisma Belia Swimming Complez..
It was only discovered during an inspection on the eve of the competition. As a result, the organisers were forced to reschedule the diving competition.
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| Getting it right: Workers, with the help of a crane, making changes to the diving platform at the Wisma Belia Swimming Complex in Bandar Indera Mahkota last night. |
The women’s platform synchro was originally supposed to take place yesterday but was replaced by the 1m springboard event.
Contractors brought in a crane after the swimming finals ended last night to work into the early hours of the morning to fix a temporary steel extension to allow the platform competition to be held today.
No way would this be allowed by FINA, the governing body for aquatics, if Sukma is an international meet.
But this is the Sukma and the state organisers have the prerogative.
But it begs the question why the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) was not consulted in the first place.
Asum secretary Edwin Chong said they only found out about the mistakes during the inspection and it was brought to the attention of the organisers.
“The higher platform must extend out by a metre to prevent the divers from getting into contact with the lower platform when they turn during their routines.
“There is a need to fix the extension quickly as the events have already started and that is why we amended the schedule for the diving competition.
“We also requested them to cover the platform with anti-slip flooring to make it safe for the divers.”
Pahang hosted their first Sukma in 1996 but the original structure cannot be used any more due to the different requirements for the synchro events.
Synchronised diving made its Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000.
A total of 12 sports facilities were upgraded at a cost of RM75.3mil for the Pahang Sukma, with the swimming complex costing the most.
Other projects were the building of a mini hockey stadium at Wisma Belia (RM13mil), repairs to the SUPKA Indoor Stadium (RM7.3mil), renovation works at Wisma Belia (RM6mil), repairs to the Kuantan Hockey Stadium (RM5.5mil), a new football field at Tanjung Lumpur (RM7.5mil), a new lawn bowls indoor stadium at Wisma Belia (RM7.5mil), a petanque court at Balok (RM3mil), turfing works at MPK football field (RM2mil), a new roof for the SUKPA hockey field (RM1.5mil), upgrading the squash courts at Taman Gelora (RM800,000) and upgrading the facilities for the sailing centre at the Balok Water Recreational Centre (RM200,000).
There are a total of 24 sports for the Pahang Sukma offering a total of 377 gold medals.
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