Sunderland divers call for rethink on pool closures as young members miss out on training

Pools gyms and leisure facilities are all shut from November 5 until at least December 2 after the second national lockdown came into force in England.

But amateur sports organisations have been pressing for their members to be able to continue training during the restrictions.

Sunderland City Dive Team is among them. Officials at the club say swimming pools are the safest environment in which to exercise, adding they have worked hard to keep young divers – aged between six and 18 – in the water.

Adele Graham-King, chairwoman of Sunderland City Dive Team, warned the closure of the swimming pool has the potential to harm the mental health of its young members.

“You can not get more socially distanced than diving, there’s only one person at a time on the board and the children are in and out of chlorinated water,” she said.

"We are used to social distancing so it couldn’t be safer.

"There have been very, very few Covid-19 related cases linked with swimming pools and we feel that this is such an unfair decision.”

Ms Graham-King questioned the scientific basis the closure of pools, and claimed the advantages of staying open outweigh the disadvantages.

Ministers and Government experts, however, have insisted the lockdown rules are necessary to stem the spread of the coronavirus as cases soar, with fears of high fatalities and overrun hospitals it action is not taken.

Ms Graham-King remains frustrated with the decision for a blanket closure of pools, and voiced fears of the impact it would have on her club’s young members and those across the country.

“We have supported all of the Swim England measures but we are still having to tell our children that they can’t go diving for another month,” she said.

“Our children are on their knees, their mental health is in pieces and their physical health will suffer massively.

“We have achieved so many things in these difficult circumstances, but we really believe there is no reason why pools can’t stay open for organisations like ours.”

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