Countdown to opening of Liverpool’s world-class Olympic pool

Feb 26 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S much anticipated Olympic-size swimming pool has been filled with more than a million litres of water in preparation for its opening next month.

It has taken workers more than five days to pump the contents into the new 50m pool – now officially named the Liverpool Aquatics Centre – and finishing touches are being put to the building.

It is the biggest investment in the city’s

swimming facility for decades, and it is hoped it will benefit the local community and also be used as a training centre by the city’s elite swimmers, putting an end to the 70-mile round trips they currently have to make to Manchester and Wigan.

The state-of-the-art facility will be one of only a handful of Olympic-size pools in the UK. It is three pools in one, with the main pool designed to be divided in two, plus another 20-metre pool. It has a unique moveable floor to allow the depth of the water to be varied.

Earlier this month, The Daily Post revealed the pool will cost £27m in interest and debt repayments over 20 years after building costs rose to £16.9m from £12m.

But during a visit to the centre, council leader Warren Bradley said it would be money well spent: “It is definitely worth the investment. It will, hopefully, nurture some swimming stars of the future but it is not just for our own elite swimmers, it is also for the local community including recreational groups, mothers and toddlers and schools.

“So many health issues, like obesity, can be tackled by encouraging people to engage in activities like swimming.

“We already have first-class athletics, football, gymnastics and tennis facilities in Liverpool, and the pool will allow us to bid to host national swimming championships so that people can cheer on our athletes in their home city.

“It is another boost for Liverpool in our year as European Capital of Culture.”

Spectators will be able to watch the swimmers in a 400-seat arena, and it is expected the site will also host major championships.

The project includes additional investment to improve the Lifestyles leisure centre next door, which will see a major expansion of the gym with more than 100 pieces of equipment. The entire sports complex, which also includes the Indoor Tennis Centre, Athletics Centre and extensive synthetic and grass sports pitches, will be re-named Wavertree Sports Park.

The majority of funding – £13m – is coming from the city council, with a further £4m of Lottery cash from Sport England.

The Aquatics Centre will replace the original 80-year-old Picton Baths which had to close because of structural problems.

Stewart Kellett, regional director of Sport England North West, added: “We are extremely pleased to be able to invest such a substantial amount into the development of a 50m pool for Liverpool.

“We are committed to increas-ing participation in physical activity and sport across the North West and the likes of Waver-tree Sports Park and Liverpool Aquatics Centre will play a huge part in helping us to achieve this aim.

“Not only will it be a world-class training and competition facility, but a place for us to nurture our young talent and somewhere for the local community to enjoy.”

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk