Swimming against the tide to stay afloat

DIVING IN: Swimming Tasmania chief executive Jamie McIntyre during a visit to Launceston Aquatic Centre this week. Picture: Rob Shaw When it comes to the logistical problems facing their

sport, the staff of Swimming Tasmania are prepared to jump straight in the deep end. SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR UNLIMITED ACCESS. Login or signup to continue reading 50% off EOFY Sale All articles

from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other regional websites in your area Continue Despite limits on maximum numbers at

venues and strict COVID-19 protocols to observe, chief executive Jamie McIntyre is confident the sport is in for a bumper summer. "There's still a few challenges and the biggest

will be how to accommodate 500 for the state title in Hobart over four-and-a-half days, but there will be a solution," he said during a visit to Launceston this week. Number

restrictions on indoor gatherings is making Swimming Tasmania consider splitting events into two age groups, excluding parents and even transferring events to outdoor pools. The total number

will have to take into account coaches, team managers, officials and pool staff so the state body is taking whatever steps it can to maximise the number of swimmers. Splitting events into

more than one age group will also incur additional expense but McIntyre, who has spent eight years as chief executive after previous roles with royal lifesaving and surf lifesaving, said ST

is prepared to wear that cost. ON DECK: Swimming Tasmania chief executive Jamie McIntyre at Launceston Aquatic Centre. Picture: Rob Shaw "We don't want to pass that onto the

swimmers. It's not fair on them," he said. "Other things we need to look at are how we marshal the kids. We will have to manage that and keep the social distancing. "The

centres have been absolutely fantastic to work with. It's been a real team effort to find solutions." Nationally, the number of registered swimmers is expected to drop by 10 per

cent this year but McIntyre said Tasmanian numbers have stayed about the same while the state body has dodged the financial bullets that have crippled some other sports. "We've

been very lucky to have been able to keep our staff on which is myself plus three part-time. "That has been key to being able to move fairly quickly when we needed to. > The centres 

have been absolutely fantastic to work with. It's been a > real team effort to find solutions > - Swimming Tasmania chief executive Jamie McIntyre "We could start a swim meet

tomorrow if we needed to. "We've also had a lot more interaction with members through teleconferences and there's been some real positives to come out of all of this.

"We're in a unique position compared to a lot of the other states." Although Launceston Aquatic Centre has been reopen for several weeks, Hobart only returned to action last

Monday. A redesigned calendar of events on the ST website is set to begin with free fun meets at both major pools on Saturday, August 15, featuring untimed racing over 25 and 75m. ELSEWHERE

IN SPORT: DIARY DATES AUGUST 15: FREE FUN MEETS (LAUNCESTON AND HOBART AQUATIC CENTRES) AUGUST 29: SHORT-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) SEPTEMBER 5: SHORT-COURSE

QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) SEPTEMBER 13: LAC MEDLEY PENTATHLON SEPTEMBER 19: SHORT-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) SEPTEMBER 26: SHORT-COURSE QUALIFYING

TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) OCTOBER 10: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) OCTOBER 17: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) OCTOBER 24: LONG-COURSE

QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) OCTOBER 31: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) NOVEMBER 7: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE)

NOVEMBER 14: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) NOVEMBER 21: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) NOVEMBER 28: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART

AQUATIC CENTRE) DECEMBER 5: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AND HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) JANUARY 9: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) JANUARY 17: LONG-COURSE

QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) JANUARY 30-31: TASMANIAN SPRING AND RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) FEBRUARY 6: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC

CENTRE) FEBRUARY 13: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE) FEBRUARY 20: LONG-COURSE QUALIFYING TRIALS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) MARCH 4-8: TASMANIAN LONG-COURSE

CHAMPIONSHIPS (HOBART AQUATIC CENTRE) Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds. Heralding the impact of

Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds. More from AFL Shayne Hope Anna Harrington Shayne Hope Anna Harrington Shayne Hope and Joanna

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