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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
SWIMMERS have to brace themselves for cold water when the National Youth Games swimming competitions get underway at Bulawayo City Pool this morning.

According to Matabeleland Swimming Board chairperson Maurine Nyamutsamba, the pool will not be heated for the Games.

“Teams have arrived and have been acclimatising to the water since Monday. Five provinces, Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland West have entered teams for the event. We are going to be running straight finals, as the numbers we have do not allow us to have pre-laps,” said Nyamutsamba.

“We are ready for the Games as everything is in place. Tomorrow (today) at 8AM we have the first splash. A lot of provinces do not realise how swimming works; we have been trying from Monday to ensure that when we start tomorrow (today) there are no hiccups,” she said. Swimming is one of the new sport codes at this year’s games and the swimming board is delighted with the decision to include the sport.

“We are happy that recognition has been given to swimming. We are excited for getting the platform to display new talent,” she said.

Action begins with the 50m breaststroke, 200m freestyle taking centre stage.

They will also compete in the 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke.

Nyamutsamba said Team Bulawayo was ready to conquer the Youth Games.

@innocentskizoe