City to spend $75,000 on starting blocks

The city is getting a breast stroke ahead of an upcoming swimming tournament by changing outdated starting blocks at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

Council has approved spending $75,000 to replace 16 competitive starting blocks at the pool in time for the Speedo Western Canadian Championships in February 2011.

The blocks were originally installed in 1993 when the aquatic centre was built, and worked well for sometime.

But a staff report noted the blocks have started to malfunction.

One of the blocks failed during a swim meet in June and several blocks required frequent maintenance during a recent provincial championship.

The report suggested the new blocks will ensure athlete’s safety and enhance the pool to meet national and international standards.

The event, which takes place from Feb. 18 to Feb. 20, 2011, is expected to attract up to 600 athletes, including national-team members and Olympians competing to quality from the Commonwealth Games trials in 2011.