Swimmers washed out by dry pool

Lao national swimmers have stopped training for a week after the National Swimming Federation pool ran out of water, a swimming coach reported yesterday.

“We don't know what happened with the water supply, but we haven't had any water in the pool since last Monday,” said a worried federation trainer, Mr Phanma Toulihong.

The swimmers have been training at the pool for over three months in preparation for November's 24 th SEA Games in Nakhon Rachasima province, Thailand .

“After the problem occurred, we contacted various pools around Vientiane to help, so this week our swimmers will train at the Australian Club and Sokpaluang pools. We cannot afford to wait because the games get closer every day,” said Mr Phanma.

The federation has explained the problem to the Water Supply office in Chanthabouly district and hopes to be reconnected soon.

“We didn't get any information from the federation at first; they didn't tell us they had no water so we are going to check the situation out today and hopefully solve the problem,” said an official from the Water Supply office, Mr Sathith Chanthalangsy.

A swimmer from the federation explained that they had tried practising their strokes on dry land at the National Stadium, but it was much more tiring than training in a pool.

“We were abroad last week, and after coming back we found out about the problem and contacted the water authorities to resolve it. We don't know why officials at the federation didn't contact them while we were away,” said the National Swimming Federation Deputy Director, Mrs Mina Inthavong.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update October 23, 2007)