Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games aquatics centre has been completed and tested some 100 days before the multi-sport event begins.
Sandwell Aquatics Centre – the only brand new venue being developed for Birmingham 2022 – will stage swimming and diving events during this summer’s event, which will be held between July and August.
The £73m centre features a 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool as well as a 25m diving pool, community swimming pool and seats for up to 1,000 spectators. It will be transformed into a community leisure centre following the Games, with other facilities including two four-court sports halls and an indoor cycling studio.
The new facility has already been tested by leading British athletes and will host further test events in May, including swimming and diving training sessions and a swimming competition.
The construction of the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, which is located in Smethwick, just a few miles from Birmingham, has been overseen by Sandwell Council.
Tony McGovern, director of regeneration & growth for Sandwell Council, said: “We are very proud to celebrate the completion of the state-of-the-art Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick.
“This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our construction partners, who worked diligently throughout the project and a global pandemic to complete this venue on time and on budget.
“We are incredibly excited to be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate Sandwell on a global stage as the proud host venue for the swimming, Para swimming and diving events for the Games.
“We want the whole community in Sandwell and beyond to benefit from the world-class swimming and diving facilities at this fantastic new facility. More than that, the new Aquatics Centre is supporting our vision to boost the health and wellbeing of our communities, driving economic growth and regeneration, and improving transport links.”
The centre has cost £73m to develop, with Sandwell Council contributing £27m and £38.5m coming from the overall Birmingham 2022 budget. A further £7.6m is being added from Sport England, Black Country LEP, Sandwell Leisure Trust and University of Wolverhampton.
Birmingham 2022 track-and-field events are to be held at the Alexander Stadium, which has undergone a redevelopment programme ahead of the Games.
Image: Birmingham 2022
