Bureaucracy is the biggest problem in the development of infrastructure for water sports in Romania, according to chair of the Romanian Federation of Swimming and Modern Pentathlon (FRNPM) Camelia Potec, who wants all children to learn to swim for free, not for a fee, as is happening now in Romania.

Attending on Saturday the opening of the Danube Delta Cup children’s swimming competition in Tulcea, Potec told AGERPRES that in Romania there are now only two pools for jumping, in Bacau and Bucharest, and the lack of infrastructure is discouraging children from doing the sport.

„If we talk about swimming, we can say that things have improved not as much as they have improved in other countries or not that quickly, because our biggest problem is bureaucracy. There are about 300 applications submitted to the National Investment Corporation, there are 60 pool projects in progress, but unfortunately the time for tenders, for construction works is very long because of red tape. For the Otopeni pool, opened in 2022 with the European Junior Championship, we waited 15 years, for the Braila pool we have been waiting for eight years for the completion of the works. I also understand the Romanian government, that companies do not show up, that there are procedures, that they are litigating with former companies,” said Potec.

She added that the bureaucratic procedures that hinder the development of sports infrastructure and the promotion of sport have to be fast-tracked.

„From a legal point of view, everyone has all kinds of obstacles, but in order to have a generation of healthy young people, to have a generation of children who represent us with honour at the highest level, it is clear that we need a better infrastructure, which is built faster, in two, three years, just as it happens abroad. Surely all children should at least learn to swim for free and not for a fee, as it is happening now.”

She said that in 2025 Romania would host an international swimming competition and added that she hopes that starting next year artistic swimming will also be developed in the country, and in 2032 Romania will have representatives at the Olympic Games and in water jumping and modern pentathlon.

Referring to a project announced by Paul Georgescu for Romania to have a medallist in open water swimming at the 2028 Olympic Games, Potec expressed her willingness to support him.

„Paul has always been the man who made the impossible possible. I think it is a short period of time, especially if we are talking about a medal, but I believe that a qualification can be a successful project for the next Olympic Games.”

At the swimming competition in Tulcea, Potec came accompanied by her daughter, and during the opening ceremony she received from the chairman of the Natantibus Club, Sorin Balan, a plaque as a sign of gratitude for the special results she had in the sports activity and as president of the federation.

In 2004, Potec won the gold medal in the women’s 200-metre freestyle swimming event at the Athens Olympics, and in 2013 she became chair of the federation. During his sporting career, she won over 200 national titles and 20 medals at international competitions.

AGERPRES