The Aquatics Centre
For the Games
- 17,500 capacity
- Olympic Swimming and Diving
- Paralympic Swimming
After the Games
- 2 x 50m Pools
- 1 x 25m Diving Pool
- All pools for community use and high performance training
- All pools have moveable floors. The two 50m pools have booms to allow depths and heights changes
- High specification strength and coaching area in the diving area to enable dry-land training
- 2,500 permanent seated capacity with the ability to expand to 3,500 seated capacity for major events
The Aquatics Centre is a truly iconic building. Acting as a gateway to the Olympic Park, it will be located in its south-east corner in the London borough of Newham. Zaha Hadid Architects are working on the project, with construction having started in July 2008 with completion anticipated for July 2011. This will allow for a range of elite test events to take place in the facility prior to the Games.
The venue boasts a 17,500 seat capacity for Olympic Games and will house two 50 metre swimming pools: one 8-lane training pool at a depth of 2 metres and one 10-lane competition pool located to the south side of the training pool enclosure. In addition, there will be a separate diving pool. During the Games, it will host numerous high profile events including swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and the swimming component of the Modern Pentathlon and water polo events. During the Paralymics, the venue will be home to all swimming events.
Following the Games, the Aquatics Centre will be substantially reduced in capacity to its permanent Legacy form. The building will be transformed to leave 2,500 permanent seats, which will be capable of being expanded to a capacity of 3,500 for legacy events. There will be moveable floors and bulkheads, which will allow the pools to be altered in length and depth to ensure maximum programmable space for all ages and abilities. Further to this, there will be a moveable floor in the 25 metre diving pool which will also accommodate variable water depths to allow maximum usage. A permanent dry-land training facility will also be provided for diving, strength and conditioning activities for performance athletes.
The legacy venue will provide opportunities for a range of aquatic fitness activities and disciplines. It will offer a balanced programme of activities including water polo, synchronised swimming and sessions for those with disabilities.
This facility will be a focus for community use as well as providing a high performance training destination for those wishing to develop their talent. It will concentrate on delivering a range of coaching and training for the next generation of swimmers, both locally and internationally. It will also boast a state of the art dry technical diving training facility.
The venue will be a recognised international hub for learning, developing and promoting swimming activities. It will incorporate a crèche, family-friendly changing facilities and café amenities alongside a new public plaza. The facility will provide improved facilities for swimming and fitness, whilst also providing the capacity to attract new participants, including those who may be encouraged to take up new activities as a result of a successful 2012 Games.
Please note: The above image is of the Aquatics Centre during Games time.
