Swimmers targeted in blitz on public swimming pools

By Yang Lifei and Zou Qi  |   2008-6-20  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ALL public swimming pools in Shanghai will begin checking shampoos, body wash and other liquids before a person is allowed on the premises in an effort to improve security.

The new policy has been issued to avoid explosions or other terrorist attacks, according to the Shanghai Social Sports Administrative Center yesterday.

Public swimming pools will open from today through to September 10, the city's sports authority said.

According to the Shanghai Social Sports Administrative Center, there are more than 450 public swimming pools in the city, about 400 of which have passed the organization's safety examination. The others have applied for a swimming venue permit.

The center has organized security training for staff members working in the swimming pools.

"We will arrange at least one security guard to be stationed at the entrance of every swimming pool," said an official surnamed Li at the Center. "The guards will check whether swimmers take flammable articles."

Swimmers bringing shampoo or body wash will be asked to open the bottle and allow the security guard to smell it to determine if the liquid is safe.

However, some swimming pools in the city had been open to the public and they have not conducted such checking yet.

According to the center, it will strengthen the supervision to the pools and promote the policy to the managers of the swimming pools in the city.