Olympic Park sport complex in Montreal, the site of the 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials from May 13-19, remains closed one week after a fire erupted around the Olympic Stadium tower in the early hours of the morning last Thursday.
The Olympic Park sports center is inaccessible until at least April 2nd, and officials indicated it could be a gradual reopening due to significant water and smoke damage.
The facility’s closure is impacting more than 4,000 people who use it on a regular basis, including hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Montreal police said the fire was likely started by a person, but the arson squad is still working to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate.
“The dust from the fire went inside the sports center and inside the vent system, so now we have a lot of fine particles,” Olympic Park spokesperson Cedric Essiminy said. ” On April 2nd, we will have a broader view of what’s been affected and what needs to be done. We will also be able to give a correct schedule how we can open.”
The Invitation Internationale Neptune 2024 was initially slated for April 4-7 at Olympic Park, but that meet must now be rescheduled due to the closure. Classes and activities have also been postponed, including swimming lesson registration.
Olympic Park was constructed in the mid-1970s as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics. Olympic Stadium is the former home of the Montreal Expos, who relocated in 2004 to Washington, D.C.
Looking at the “Canadian Way” which was supposedly developed with coach and swimmer input it’s difficult to fathom how Montreal was a coach and swimmer based choice over TPASC in an Olympic year. Would seem that the 800 million in upgrades to the Montreal Park had to be repaid with a meet win like Olympic year trials. The assignment of locations for the significant meets over the next 4 years appears to be more influenced by the minister for sport and politics than coach and swimmer input. If the recent Speedo Easterns, which was pretty much a Quebec only event, is an indication for the future it’s likely these national events will not be as National as SC desires.
Bingo
I was seriously confused by such a reaction to a seemingly small fire and then I remember what year this stadium was build :-((( In 1970s, asbestos was still in use sometimes as a fire retardant. If it was released into the building and got into the ventilation system, it’s a huge disaster and the remediation will take months. If there are any chances of asbestos presence in the air, there is no chance Swimming Canada would dare to risk athletes health
Jesus, you might be right! I tried to google and couldn’t find any information about asbestos in this building, but it was planned in early 1970-1972, so it might be the case
Has there been any renovations done in the last 30 plus year’s where this would have had to been considered?
Yes. The pool itself was upgraded I believe 10 years ago. Perhaps fewer.
Yes, 2015
I heard that asbestos was found in the ventilation system which is the reason for the extended shutdown…
Trials should have been held in Toronto wonder if there is enough time for change of venue.
Please for the love of god move it to TPASC. Montreal is horrendous
It should have been held at TPASC in the first place but imagine all the non-carded or HPC athletes trying to change hotels and flights… not everyone can just beg Daddy Atkinson to pay their way…
Enough time and availability… ~8 days full booking of both pools probably requires some advance negotiation with the regular user base.
(there is also a meet scheduled at TPASC on May 11-12th, with current trials racing schedule starting on Monday 13th). May 11, 2024 to May 12, 20246:00 am to 9:00 pmSCAR Pan Am InvitationalCompetition Pool Event
Undoubtedly, in an Olympic year when an unpredictable event such as a disastrous fire has taken place so soon prior to Trials, I would think that everyone would have the good sense to move small and relatively modest events for the penultimate Canadian swimming event. This assumes logic and respectfulness governs folks’ mindset(s) which, in the swimming world, might be a bridge too far. 🤷🏻♂️ Hopefully SC just has the good sense to move it now to avoid further consternation and anxiety.