Featured image credit: World Aquatics
The Olympic Aquatic Centre in Paris has staged its first event ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games.
From May 3-10, the arena is hosting a “unique” event featuring artistic swimming, diving and water polo competitions. The event will see international athletes compete to test facilities and give fans a taste of what to expect at the Olympics.
The venue will host artistic swimming, diving and water polo events during the Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. The arena is located near the Stade de France, which will host athletics events during the Games.
The Olympic Aquatic Centre is one of just two new permanent sports facilities created for Paris 2024, alongside the Adidas Arena which opened in February.
Over the coming weeks, the Olympic Aquatic Centre will host a range of events, including the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup, a women’s water polo match between France and USA, and the French national championships for men’s water polo.
After the Games, the arena will serve as a high-performance centre for diving in France, featuring the only permanent 10-metre diving board in the Paris region.
World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam said: “The unveiling of the new Olympic Aquatics Centre represents a fantastic milestone for aquatics. I am delighted that our sports are set to be in the spotlight at the Olympic Games this summer.
“As president of World Aquatics, I feel immense pride in seeing our athletes showcase their incredible talent on the world stage. The Centre is a perfect backdrop for this. I have no doubt that the aquatic competitions of Paris 2024 will captivate audiences worldwide.”
The venue was officially inaugurated on April 4 during an event attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.
In March, Stade Yves-du-Manoir, which has undergone major redevelopment work for Paris 2024, officially opened. The venue, which will host hockey events during the Games, underwent redevelopment work from May 2022 to December 2023.
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