The Brazilian Interclub Youth Swimming Championship, the Arthur Sampaio Carepa Trophy, was moved to a location in Recife after the pool at the Santos Dumont Sports Center presented turbidity that compromised the view of the bottom. The competition, which began last Monday (15), brings together 594 athletes, representing 123 clubs.
The change took the events to Sport Club do Recife. Athletes, coaches and family members report structural problems in the new location, such as limited space, circulation restrictions and conditions considered unsuitable for holding the events.
Difficulties were also exposed in support areas, such as bathrooms. In one of the reports, female athletes allegedly used buckets to urinate.
In a statement, the CBDA (Brazilian Water Sports Confederation) regretted the inconvenience caused and said that the decision to change the competition schedule was taken exclusively due to the turbidity of the water, with no contamination of the Santos Dumont equipment, which continues to be monitored.
“The entity’s concern was related to the physical safety of athletes during the competitions, since the reduction in visibility could make it difficult to see the markings on the bottom of the pool and the references used during competitive swimming, increasing the risk of accidental impacts during the execution of the competitions”, said the entity.
The crisis began in the middle of the competition, when participants reported a loss of water transparency along the heats at the Santos Dumont Sports Center, which made it difficult to see the lanes. After the transfer, new complaints arose at Sport Club do Recife.
Coach Gino Zardo Degane, from Praia Clube (MG), states that the situation was very harmful to the athletes, but also to their families. The average cost of participating in the championship varies between R$4,000 and R$5,000 per athlete, including travel, accommodation, food and fees.
“It’s a high cost for a grassroots competition. Any logistical change directly impacts the teams”, he says.
In addition to the regular fees, clubs were informed of an additional charge of R$44 per swimmer, called “pool fee” or “federation fee”. The CBDA states that the amount was approved in a meeting with state federations and athlete representatives. Participants complain.
