Pool competitions and air quality

[osusim]

After experience at resent competition I’d like to start discussion about air quality.
Even during opening of the event I’ve started terribly yawn. May be not enough sleep? Air was warm and contained a lot of moister. Breathing wasn’t so easy as usual. I finished static this average result and small samba. During interval between STA and DYN we did some random check with a basic oximeter. I also used my own one. Everybody did have 95-96% pO2 instead of 97-98%. My pulse was also high. My dry warm-up was terrible and contractions start too early. Many athletes performed lower then expected, were many disqualifications during SP.
Such situation can’t happen at open pools. Is lot of fresh air give athletes at such events advantage again athletes in close pools? AIDA doesn’t recognize dynamic performance at open water because there is possible water current. But AIDA doesn’t care about air quality and quantity of O2 in it. And pO2 can be higher then 21% in air as well.
So, should AIDA define air quality norms at list for WR and WC?

 

[Kars]

Interesting questions Osusim.

Raising O2 air quality will make a difference, though it's not cheap to do for a whole pool it's not beyond some organisations. Like suggested in another thread that China may have raised the O2 level in their pools to help athletes to swim records, to the glory of organiser China.

On the other hand a lower O2 will be a hindrance for WR's too.

But thankfully it is not helping a particular athlete at a event, though for AIDA ranking it can make a difference.

Though I like equality, the quest for it can lead to suffocating over regulation:
Harrison Bergeron - Google Video

Like I said, interesting questions, I'm looking forward to other views!

Love, Courage and Water.

Kars

 

[H.Balázs]

Hi All,

Congrats to you Igor for your dynamic no fins result, instead of the quality of air!

Otherwise, I think it is hard to define+follow such a legislation, but easier to open a window, if there is possibility to open one. The circumstances at the time is the same for everyone, but this is one of the reason, why not allowd to compare competition with other competition.

BTW, in 2004 Tom Sietas did an 'easy' 8:58min (or 8:56min?? does not remember well, the actually record was 8:47min) in RMC (i'm blacked out at preparation :blackeye)

Balázs

 

[Waterenthusiast]

I was at the Rhein Main cup last weekend and the air quality wasn't really good too. Air temperature was about 30 °C which is really tiring, especially when staying almost the whole day inside the pool complex. I tried to go outside as much as possible between the performances to get a fresh load of oxygen. Atlast i performed really well (2 new PB's), but in general i would advise the organizers to care more about the air quality and if necessary to open some windows once in a while.

Christophe

 

[Kars]

Hi Christophe, Kars here, I Think both of you talking about the same competition in Wiesbaden

Congradulations with your PB's, I'm sure your breath of fresh outside air made a difference to you. Personally I usually go outside to relax, breath and focus before a competition. Inside there is not only lesser quality air but also heaps of friends I want to catch up with

What were your PB's you improved at the Rhein Main Cup in Wiesbaden?
In case you're planning to come to Berlin in the 15th of November or the 23th to Eindhoven I would love to meet you in person. Sometimes a sleepy feeling can help to relax better .

To return to subject,

My impression is that most inside pools have poorer air quality. On the other hand some pools the air quality is so low that it's noticeable seeing rested people acting like they are tired, yawning etc. .

Though the organisers' check list is already long, maybe future organirers' would like to invest a few minutes checking air quality and ventilation options?

In my view the air quality problem isn't much broad up on this board, so I hope the experience is limited to mentioned event. In question of the scope, I ask:
Has anyone experienced anywhere else such a poor air quality?

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

 

[martin_gk]

Hi,

I was quite shocked about the results of our little experiment with Erics oxymeter. I think every athlete should be aware of the fact that in bad condition the O2 level can drop quite significantley.

Organizers should keept it in mind as well but every athlete is responsible for themselfs and should take care.

Going outside at the RMC was a good idea and the open door helped exchanging some of the air but normally those pools are not made for staying several hours.

Cheers
Martin

 

[pim]

Hi all come to Eindhoven and be surprised it can be 100% different than in most swimmingpools.....

The air quality is totally different there....first the stadium is simply huge, waterquality is superb and the use of chlorine is very low due to a special system (by Lotec BV, yes I work there ). This and the also high air-system (not by our company rofl) makes it a very comfortable place to be....

I wonder what the O2-measurents will show there???? For more info check www.dutchapneaopen.com ... our IN-list is filling nice and we have 14 Nationalities allready :friday



Just to inform you....it is NOT ALLOWED to simply open doors/windows in swimming pools. The air temperature in swimming pools are regulated by law and are conneted to the water temperature, the air system will go in error probably and then you have even lower ventilation. There is no supervision outside and that can give problems, although I always go outside in the breaks during the RMC....

It is not the organizer but the European laws (and guess in US, Asia they have similar laws) the swimming pools have to follow and in most countries they are very strickt in following this. The laws have no room for 'events' and simply the laws for pool are applicable. It will get better over the comming years as many regulations are changing for the better and older pools will have to follow them aswell....


Grtzzzz Pim
www.dutchapneaopen.com

 

[Rik]

I guess that what you are saying is that if you open the doors in an computer assisted ventilated indoor pool, you might disturb the air quality in such a negative way that it would be in breach with the law on air quality in pools.

However, if you would conclude that the air quality isn't optimal for a competition, wouldn't it be possible to adjust the system for it, without opening doors?

 

[Waterenthusiast]

Oh i missed some replies here :blackeye
@Kars: Unfortunately i won't be in Berlin or Eindhoven this month, i'm quite busy with finishing my Diploma-thesis (equivalent to Master) and of course reading DB posts I improved only a bit my PB's at the Rhein main cup (+1m in DYN and +17s in static) but was quite happy to hit max performances (129m DYN and 5'37").
As I already told Martingk in Wiesbaden, i hope to be able to attend the Berliner Meisterschaft next February, perhaps meeting some of you there.

Have a nice day,
Christophe

 

[osusim]

European law, you said. I've got serious doubt that ventilation system worked over weekend there at all.
Any way, after many NRs and PBs we can consider beneficial effect of low oxygen environment due to body adaptation. Should AIDA not allow to an athlete put his/her head in a plastic bag before 45 minutes of OT? :t