National swimming programme growing

By Morissa Lindsay

After a long hiatus, the National Senior Games is likely for 2023 and Barbados’ older competitors are using the National Elderly Swim Program put on by the National Sports Council and the National Conservation Commission to prepare themselves.

Acting Assistant Director of Sport at the National Sports Council, Adrian Donovan, said that several participants from the Masters Athletics Association took part in the last program and once again have indicated their interest to participate in the nine-weeks program commencing Monday, October 17th to Saturday, December 17th.

“The elderly have spoken and we have answered their request once again. The National Sports Council in collaboration with the National Conservation Commission is embarking on the restart of this program,” Donovan said.

He added: “We had a number of participants from the Masters Athletics Association in preparation for next year’s senior games. We did not have any senior games over the last couple of years, it could be on next year if everything goes according to plan. A number of athletes are preparing themselves early to make sure that when the bell rings they are ready.”

The participants received certificates from the last course held July 18th to September 24th and Donovan noted that people have been coming daily to the Browne’s Beach location to register.

“After this swimming program we are looking in the New Year to venture further and assist the elderly in a healthy lifestyle of wellness in their golden age where we will focus on line dancing, ballroom dancing and yoga at various venues around the island.”

The program has been a resounding success in the past with participants ranging from ages 19 to 90 and head instructor of the National Elderly Swim Programme Rawle Eversley told Barbados TODAY that he is pleased with the response from the general public.

“The program is continuation of what would have happened before with the last program and they were some people that were here before and we would be taking them to a higher level, so they are intermediate people that we are targeting as well as beginners,” Eversley stated.

He also revealed that there is a growing interest in the program. “It is being advertised as we speak and there is a lot of interest within the beach community sports program because it is one that has been called for a long time. So, what has happened, since there was such big interest and demand in the program, we decided to go ahead and continue with the ongoing program at the end of this year to satisfy the growing demand.

“We had a 90-year-old which is good because there isn’t a lot going on for the people of that demographic with COVID and such, so people are glad [to get out] and it also helps with the exercises. We have had some problems in Barbados with NCDs (non-communicable diseases) and swimming is a complete exercise; you use every muscle in the body.

“This program has helped a lot of people especially in that age group where the notion was that the sea has no back door and this program has shown people they can learn to swim while enjoying themselves and doing something for their own health.”