Reports out of London, via the Associated Press, are that the first of the London Aquatic Centre’s three pools, a 25-meter diving pool, has now been filled with water. According to Olympic Delivery Authority David Higgins, “Water is now in the diving pool. It hasn’t leaked. So far so good.”
London Aquatics Centre Pools were filled and tested for thefirst time. So far, so good.
The $500 million London Aquatics Facility, while not having quite as iconic of a shape as the Beijing Water Cube, is still a massively impressive structure, with a very unique wave-like shape. The facility will house two 50-meter pools and a 25-meter diving tank. As the first thing that visitors will see upon entering the Olympic Park, the London Aquatics Centre will certainly make an indellible first impression on the crowds.
Above: the Water Cube in Beijing, home of all aquatics competitions at the 2008 Olympics. Bottom: artists rendering of the 2012 London Aquatics Centre, which is due to be completed next year.
The 17,500 spectator facility will host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo competitions, and will be converted for public use as the premiere aquatics facility in a nation severely in need of one.
Photo Take April 7, 2010 from the Official 2010 London Webcam
Photos from the official London 2012 webcam show that the roof of the facility, which seems by far to be the biggest challenge architectually, is well on it’s way to completion, but that the building still lacks walls and any interior buildout aside from the pools. With over 2 1/2 years until the Olympics kick off, it looks like London should be more than ready to host the world’s top swimmers, including Michael Phelps’ swan song.
