The Brazilian Youth Interclub Swimming Championship moved from Centro Esportivo Santos Dumont to Sport Club do Recife after the pool water became turbid. The Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation lamented the disruptions and cited athlete safety concerns.
The competition, which brings together 594 athletes from 123 clubs, began on Monday, June 15. Turbidity in the water at the original venue made it hard to see the pool bottom, prompting the move during the event.
Athletes, coaches and family members reported problems at the new site, including limited space, circulation restrictions and inadequate bathroom conditions. In one complaint, female athletes reportedly used buckets to urinate.
CBDA said the change happened solely because of the turbidity, with no contamination at the Santos Dumont facility. The entity highlighted the risk of accidental collisions due to poor visibility.
Coach Gino Zardo Degane, from Praia Clube, said the situation harmed both athletes and families. The average cost per participant ranges from R$ 4,000 to R$ 5,000, plus an extra R$ 44 fee per swimmer.
