Promised Pool Failure: Swimming Clubs Lose Elite Athletes After 10 Months Closed

Swimming clubs in the south of the country face a devastating crisis, with some losing elite athletes, as the Mare d’Albert swimming pool remains closed for repairs a staggering 10 months after Minister of Youth and Sports, Deven Nagalingum, guaranteed its reopening.

The ongoing closure means local clubs are unable to enter competitions organised by the Mauritian Swimming Federation (FMN).

Sanjay Sarju, President of the New Grove Swimming Club, revealed the severe impact, stating his club has lost several elite swimmers who were forced to leave due to the lack of a training facility.

Mr Sarju has now written to the Mauritius Sports Council (MSC), copying Minister Nagalingum, to highlight the “urgent” situation.

The Minister had initially promised the facility would reopen quickly, even suggesting it would host a competition around the Independence Day celebrations on March 12th.

Despite the water now appearing a “sparkling blue” instead of its previous “greenish” colour and the frogs having disappeared, the facility is still shut.

The failure to reopen comes after Minister Nagalingum expressed strong displeasure in August when Mauritius secured only two gold medals at the Indian Ocean Youth and Sports Commission Games in Seychelles.

At the time, he lamented, “We cannot be continually dominated in this way, when Mauritius is surrounded by the sea!” Yet, young swimmers in the south have been without this “indispensable tool” for over a year.

Impact on Clubs and Youth

Mr Sarju’s initial “enthusiasm” following a visit by the Minister and local elected officials (Tony Apollon and Kevin Lukeeram) on January 3rd—which led to the decision for “major work”—has turned to “desolation.”

He acknowledged that water shortages and restrictions may have caused some delays, but said the situation, ten months later, remains “slow.”

The club president revealed that the situation is forcing them to start again “from scratch,” as not swimming for so long leads to a loss of “landmarks, technique, and physical fitness.”

The inability to field swimmers in competition for almost a year has “severely penalised” the club.

Compounding the problem, a broken boiler which went unfixed for two years had already drastically reduced the number of club participants prior to the full closure in June 2024.

‘Hands Are Tied’

Adding to the despair, Mr Sarju said that an entire cohort of Grade 3 schoolchildren has been prevented from learning to swim this year through the school programme.

He stressed the importance of swimming in a nation “surrounded by the sea,” noting this generation of southern students will not learn the basics. The pool also serves the elderly, women, and the differently-abled.

“We have no visibility,” Mr Sarju stated. “We are already in mid-October and the children will soon be on holiday. Our hands are tied in the absence of a fully functional pool.”

He added that he and parents are heartbroken seeing young people deprived of a healthy activity.

In his letter, Mr Sarju outlined the remaining work needed, including electrical repairs, the pool deck tiling, and the installation of seating in the stands.

He concluded that the situation has taken a “dramatic turn,” and the pool must “come back to life” to prevent social ills from triumphing over sport.

Source: Le Mauricien