Olympic Athletics Pool set for high altitude training from July 4

The National Olympic pool will undergo high altitude training for the next six months

By Susil Premalal

The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) has decided to begin high altitude training for the National Olympic Pool in Nuwara Eliya from July 4. The Olympic pool is currently training at the Torrington Grounds.

The National Olympic pool will undergo high altitude training for the next six months with the participation of 25 athletes, AASL President, Major General (Ret) Palitha Fernando told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

An assessment of the facilities and weather conditions was conducted by the local coaches yesterday and the athletes are expected to travel to Nuwara Eliya today or tomorrow, the AASL President said.

All athletic competitions scheduled for this year were postponed indefinitely because of the Coronavirus pandemic by World Athletics and the Asian Athletics Association who are making plans to conduct the events in 2021.

The national Olympic Athletics Pool has been formed by the AASL in preparation for the 18th Asian Marathon Championship - Thailand (February 28), Asian 20km Race Walking Championship – Nomi City, Japan (March 21), Asian Relays Championship – Thailand (April 3 and 4), 24th Asian Athletics Championship – Hangzhou, China (May 20-23), Summer Olympics – Tokyo, Japan (July 23 to August 8) and 14th South Asian Games – Lahore, Pakistan.

Meanwhile the annual general meeting of the AASL will be held on August 28 and they hope to hold a Special General Meeting following the AGM.

It has been proposed to rename the AASL as Sri Lanka Athletics in line with the world governing body which is known as World Athletics, AASL Secretary Prema Pinnawela said.
The AASL hopes to conduct a selection trial meet for junior and senior athletes at the Sugathadasa Stadium on October 3, 4 and 5 targeting the 2021 Asian Junior and Senior Athletics Championships.

• It has been proposed to rename the AASL as Sri Lanka Athletics in line with the world governing body which is known as World Athletics, AASL Secretary Prema Pinnawela said