Circular No. 02/2011/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates the conditions for operating sports facilities organizing swimming and diving activities.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the conditions for operation of sports facilities organizing swimming and diving activities

___________________________

Pursuant to the Law on Physical Education and Sports No. 77/2006/QH11 dated November 29, 2006;

“1. Position

Article 1. Other types of artistic performances

Based on Decree No. 69/2008/NĐ-CP dated May 30, 2008 of the Government on policies to encourage socialization in educational, vocational training, health, cultural, sports, and environmental activities;

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stipulates in detail the professional activities of sports facilities organizing swimming and diving activities as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular specifies detailed conditions regarding infrastructure, equipment, and specialized staff for sports facilities organizing swimming and diving activities.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals organizing swimming and diving activities in swimming pools in Vietnam.

Article 3. Issuance of Certificate of Compliance with Operating Conditions

1. Sports facilities organizing swimming and diving activities must obtain a certificate of qualification for operation according to the procedures prescribed in Article 55 of the Law on Physical Education and Sports when conducting such activities.

2. Sports facilities organizing high-performance training and competition activities in swimming and diving must ensure the conditions prescribed in Article 43 of the Law on Physical Education and Sports and the competition regulations.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Article 4. Conditions Regarding Infrastructure

1. Swimming pool:

a) Size: The swimming pool must be constructed with a minimum size of 8m x 18m or an equivalent area;

b) The bottom of the pool must have a uniform slope without sharp bends, with a depth difference not exceeding 1m for pools longer than 25m or not more than 0.5m for pools up to 25m long;

c) The sides and bottom of the pool must be clean, with tiles that are not cracked or broken. For diving pools, the bottom must be white.

2. Starting blocks:

a) Starting blocks may only be installed in pools with a minimum depth of 1.35m;

b) For diving pools, the depth of the pool must be at least half the height from the water surface to the position of the starting block.

3. Floor: The floor around the swimming pool (including the hygiene and shower areas) must be flat, free of standing water, and non-slippery.

4. Footbath:

a) The footbath must be placed before the participants enter the pool;

b) The depth of the footbath must be between 0.15m and 0.2m;

c) It must be tiled with glazed tiles, adequately filled with water, and have good clarity and residual chlorine levels.

5. There must be showers, toilets, and changing rooms.

6. Sound and lighting:

a) Sound: The swimming pool must have a sound system with sufficient power to ensure that all areas on the surface of the pool can clearly hear necessary announcements;

b) Lighting: Swimming pools in operation must have a lighting system with a minimum intensity of 300Lux at all points on the surface of the pool. It is encouraged to have underwater lighting systems.

7. Water quality standards:

a) Ensure water replacement, cleaning, and disinfection according to regulations, at least once a week if the pool uses well water without a circulating filtration system and chemical treatment;

b) For pools with a circulating filtration system, the pool walls and bottom must be cleaned and debris removed at least once a day, and water replenished as needed;

c) Pool water must meet the quality criteria for potable water according to the National Technical Regulation on Potable Water Quality (QCVN02:2009/BYT) issued together with Circular No. 05/2009/BYT dated June 17, 2009 of the Minister of Health, and the following specific indicators:

These indicators must be tested at least once a day, with water samples (500 ml) retained for each test for a minimum of five days. Documentation of each test must be kept on file and provided upon request by competent state authorities.

8. Medical care:

a) There must be a medical room with beds for people who feel tired and need emergency care, equipped with sufficient first aid medicines and drowning rescue equipment;

b) Register emergency care linkage with the nearest healthcare facility;

c) Organize eye drops, nasal sprays, and ear drying for participants before leaving the pool.

9. Density: One person per square meter in shallow water areas (depth under 1.0m) or one person per two square meters in deep water areas (depth from 1.0m upwards).

10. Ensure compliance with regulations on operating hours, hygiene, environment, occupational safety, and fire prevention.

3. There must be equipment serving the arbitration team of the competition including: walkie-talkies, flags, whistles, clocks, time boards, loudspeakers, starting tapes, finishing tapes, safety testing equipment, measuring tools for the size and weight of competition vehicles.

1. Lifelines:

a) Vertical lifelines: Must be stretched vertically along the lanes for pools with a depth of 1.40m or more for those who know how to swim;

b) Horizontal lifelines: Must be stretched horizontally across the pool to separate shallow areas (depth of 1m or less) for non-swimmers from deeper areas for pools with varying depths.

2. Rescue equipment:

a) Rescue poles: Each pool must have at least six rescue poles measuring 2.50m in length, painted red and white, placed in easily accessible positions on the pool edge for easy detection and use;

b) Lifebuoys: Each pool must have at least six lifebuoys placed in easily visible locations;

c) Chairs: Rescue chairs must be at least 1.50m high (measured from the water surface) and placed on both sides of the pool edge to provide optimal observation positions for rescue personnel.

3. Signage:

a) Rules board: Each pool must have a rules board placed in a location that is easy to read and view. The rules must clearly define the responsibilities of the sports facility organizing swimming and diving activities; the rights and obligations of participants; recommendations against participation for those who should not swim or dive, such as those with infectious diseases transmissible through contact with pool water, those with serious health conditions as advised by doctors, those who have consumed alcohol, eaten heavily, worked excessively, or been exposed to prolonged sun exposure; those prohibited from participating in swimming and diving; and dress code requirements for participants and staff working at the pool;

b) Warning signs: In the pool area, there must be adequate warning signs placed in various directions and in the most advantageous positions for observation and guidance for pool users;

c) Non-swimmer zone sign: A sign indicating the area designated for non-swimmers (with a depth of 1m or less) must be placed on the pool edge adjacent to the recommended area;

d) Prohibition sign: Announce prohibitions on actions such as head-first dives in areas where the pool depth is less than 1.40m.

d) Other signs: There are warning boards for dangerous areas; areas with dangerous depths, swimming areas for those who know how to swim, with depths from 1.50 meters; restricted travel zones, priority zones for people with disabilities and the elderly; boards requesting general hygiene maintenance, and clean showers before entering the swimming pool.

Article 6. Conditions for professional staff:

1. Lifeguards:

a) Conditions:

- Must ensure the presence of lifeguards on duty when there are participants in training activities;

- The number of lifeguards must ensure a ratio of 200 square meters of swimming pool/lifeguard or when there are many participants in training activities, the ratio must be 50 swimmers/lifeguard;

- Lifeguards must have a professional rescue certification issued by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province or centrally-administered city or the Vietnam Water Sports Association.

b) Requirements for lifeguards:

- Lifeguards must always be in a ready-to-rescue posture;

- Have the responsibility to frequently remind swimmers to comply with the safety regulations of the swimming pool;

- Choose a seating position that does not have backlighting to closely monitor the assigned area;

- Timely detect any signs of drowning, organize immediate rescue efforts and report immediately to medical personnel and the nearest healthcare facility.

2. Professional instructors guiding training activities must meet the standards stipulated in Point 1, Section I, Circular No. 05/2007/TT-UBTDTT dated July 20, 2007, of the Sports Committee guiding the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 112/2007/NĐ-CP dated June 26, 2007, of the Government detailing and guiding the enforcement of certain articles of the Law on Physical Education and Sports.

Each instructor may only guide training for no more than 20 children under 10 years old, and no more than 30 people in one hour of class.

3. Medical staff: During the operation of the swimming pool, there must be on-duty medical staff with at least a college-level qualification.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Responsibilities of related agencies

1. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Circular; inspecting and handling organizations and individuals organizing swimming and diving activities in swimming pools that violate the conditions for professional operations within their jurisdiction.

Article 8. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect forty-five days from the date of signature.

In the course of implementation, if any difficulties arise, it is recommended that organizations and individuals promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study and prompt resolution./.