Recreation in the dark ages

The last indoor pool was built on P.E.I. in 1991. Our only other public indoor pool was built in 1970.

Meanwhile, a recent study released by Health Canada pointed out that P.E.I is the least physically active province in Canada.

If Islanders don't want to continue to fall behind in the fitness department, athletics will have to be put at the forefront of the political agenda.

A modern-day facility could be the first step to putting P.E.I back on the right track.

Some people say the $10 million swimming pool/ skating rink proposed for the Stratford / Cornwall area is too big a step to take, but in fact it is only a baby step on the road to recovery.

What the $10 million will buy is a 25m-long pool, eight-lane swimming tank and a regulation-sized skating rink.

The minimum requirements needed to host swimming at the Canada summer games are 50m long, six lane main swimming tank and a 25m long six lane warm up pool tank.

Other basic requirements include a 10m, 7.5m and 5m diving platforms.

Also needed a two 1m and two 3m springboards.

Spectator capacity must be at a minimum of 1000 people.

When the 2009 summer games roll into this province, swimmers won't be able to participate due to a lack of a basic swimming structure.

Many people say, "Who cares? We have other things like health care and education to worry about."

A state-of-the-art facility would provide incentive for people to go out and be active and active people are healthy people and are less of a burden on the health system. The facility would also provide incentive for youth to be more active in sports.

Instead of sitting around playing video games they would be building confidence and learning how to interact .
Other people say, "We don't have the money."

The reason we don't have the money is because athletics has never been a top priority for the provincial government.

Not enough money has not been put aside in provincial budgets for athletic infrastructures Island athletes require.
Also, the money generated by hosting athletic events would be a boon to the cities economy.

Not one Island athlete was represented at the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia. Come time for the Canada summer games of 2009 we are not going to have a high medal count if athletics continues to be put on the back burner.

Will and vision are needed to take the steps needed to bring about a brighter future for Island athletes.

We should have facilities that allow all Islander to train so that when they go off-Island or when other athletes come here to compete we can be proud of our athletes and our facilities.

*DM