The swimming events will continue although a big  portion of the canvas roof of Kangar Swimming Complex was torn after 10 minutes of rain today.

Honorary secretary of the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum), Edwin Chong, said swimming events which offers 10 gold medals will be held after the canvas roof is removed.

“We will start the swimming events and see no problem having it in closed pools or open pools. During SEA Games, the swimming events were held in open  pools in Cheras,” he told reporters after the incident took place.

The canvas roof of the swimming complex was torn during the diving events after 10 minutes of rain forcing it to be closed at 2.20pm.

The diving events had to be stopped and only resumed half an hour later as soon as the rain and strong winds stopped.

The canvas roof of the swimming complex was badly damaged after about 4 hours of the diving events.

Edwin said the torn canvas roof had minimum impact on the diving events which would continue until the end.

“Facilities such as swimming pools are the responsibility of the organiser,” he added.

Aquatic events scheduled for yesterday were postponed to today after Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan urged better security at the complex.

- Bernama