Kalinga Stadium Opens Its Gates To Renovated Swimming Pool

Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for swimmers, the renovated swimming pool complex on Kalinga Stadium premises here was inaugurated by Odisha Sports Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera on Saturday.

The swimming has been completed in a record five-month time. The old complex was demolished last year to accommodate public galleries for the hockey stadium.

The renovated swimming complex is as per the standards of the  Fédération Internationale De Natation (FINA), which is 50mx25mx2m in dimension. It has 10 lanes and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

The construction of the swimming complex was funded by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).

Stating that new pool will encourage swimming as passion and career among the enthusiasts in the city, Behera said a new pool for kids will be constructed soon. The kids pool will also be in accordance to FINA standard and will be of 25mx12mx2m in dimension.

There were widespread protests last year, when the old complex was broken down to construct a gallery to accommodate more public, ahead of the Hockey World Cup scheduled in November this year.