VietNamNet Bridge – At least 2,300 swimming pools must be built to accommodate swimming lessons for public high school students, according to HCM City Department of Culture and Sports.

HCM City Party Committee Secretary Dinh La Thang with members of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports on Wednesday. — Photo thanhnien.vn

The city wants all students to be able to swim by 2020, Nguyen Huu Viet, director of the department, said

Nguyen Thi Thu, deputy chairwoman of the city’s People’s Committee, said that many pools had not been built because of high costs and a shortage of land.

An outdoor swimming pool costs around VND5 billion (US$221,200), and an indoor swimming pool VND150-300 million ($6,630), Thu said at a meeting held on Wednesday.

She said the Department of Culture and Sports should work with the Department of Education and Training to build indoor swimming pools instead of waiting for land and funds from the State budget.

The Department of Culture and Sports has also proposed building a 1.8-ha art performance centre in the Thu Thiem new urban area, and suggested that the city host the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2021.

The city’s Party Committee Secretary Dinh La Thang has asked the department to formulate a detailed plan. “The city will propose to the Government to host the SEA Games, using the city’s budget,” he said.

He asked the department to improve training of human resources in the culture and sports field and to call for private investment in infrastructure and facilities for sport and cultural activities. 

VNS