Keep water-bodies clean for sports —Swimming coach

A renowned swimming coach, Robert Hamilton, has advised communities to ensure that water-bodies are always kept clean for any sporting venture.

He noted that water-safety is vital for sports and that the prevention of drowning is a sine qua non for any life-saver and diver.

The Brit is currently in the country to train life-guards and drowning preventers on the best and effective ways of preventing sportsmen and women, as well as members of the community from drowning when around water-bodies.

Mr Hamilton, who came into the country at the behest of David Afezame, acting president of the Ghana Life-saving and Diving Association (GHALDA), is conducting a one-week course on the topic: National Water Safety Management.

He told the Graphic Sports that his work in the country so far had been enormous. “The first time I came into this country I realised that professional swimmers are likely to face challenges around water-bodies”, he noted.

He recalled visiting hotels, schools and other public institutions to educate people on save-guarding water-bodies and on how to prevent drowning.

He called on Ghanaians to take swimming seriously and work hard to build safer water-bodies where talents could swim and exhibit their talents in the national interest.

Mr Afezame, on his part, thanked Mr Hamilton for supporting life-savers and life-guards in the country with his expertise and pledged to utilise the knowledge gained for the nation’s betterment.

He expressed the desire of his outfit organising more drowning prevention, diving and life-saving courses to help the society to overcome drowning and also produce great swimmers for the country.

The course, which is currently going on at the Accra Stadium, will climax on Friday.