JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 6. SWIMMING South Africa management and its Olympic team members have agreed to work together in the interest of the sport, in a bid to provide the best planning and infrastructure for the country's four-year campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics.
Following a 90 minute meeting in Germiston today which was chaired by Swimming SA President Jace Naidoo, the Olympic swimmers voiced their concerns over several issues with regard to the team's preparations for the Beijing Olympics.
The meeting agreed that an Athletes Commission, to be headed by a former national team swimmer, should be put in place which will in future voice the concerns of the swimmers to the Swimming SA management.
The swimmers requested Swimming SA to sort out monthly payment issues as part of their Olympic build up program, with the federation agreeing to discuss this matter with the providers of the financial support.
Other requests put forward by the swimmers and which will be favorably considered by Swimming SA, include increasing the number of international swimming galas abroad in the period of 12 to 24 months prior to the Olympics, the use of more sports science testing-related programs to monitor the training programs of the swimmers, and the use of a sports psychologist to assist with the mental preparations of the athletes.
Special thanks to Swimming South Africa for contributing this report.