Sandwell Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility located in Londonderry, Smethwick, West Midlands, England. It contains an Olympic-size swimming pool (one of only two in the West Midlands region), a 10-metre diving board with 25-metre pool[1] (the only one in the whole of the Midlands), a community swimming pool and permanent seating for 1,000 spectators with an additional 4,000 seats during the Games.[2] Construction began in January 2020 and opened on 12 April 2022 to mark 100 days until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
 Venue under construction | |
 | |
| Location | Smethwick, B67 7EP |
|---|---|
| Operator | Sandwell Leisure Trust |
| Capacity | 5,000 (1,000 post Commonwealth Games) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 2020 |
| Opened | May 2023 |
| Construction cost | £73 million |
| Architect | Roberts Limbrick Architects |
| Tenants | |
| 2022 Commonwealth Games | |
The centre was initially used for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and was the only venue constructed for the games.[2] After the games, the centre is scheduled to be redeveloped and will officially open for public use in May 2023 when it will be operated by the Sandwell Leisure Trust.[3] During the redevelopment, seating used for the Games will be removed and two 4-court sports halls, a 108-station gym, a 28-station ladies-only gym, three activity studios, an indoor cycling studio, a sauna, a steam room, a football pitch with changing facilities, a dry diving area, an urban park and children's playground, and café will be created.[4]
Funding for the centre comes from several sources. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is contributing £27 million, with £38.5 million coming from the overall Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games budget. A further £7.6 million is from Sport England, Black Country LEP, Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) and University of Wolverhampton.[5]
On 18 May 2024, the pool hosted its first underwater hockey tournament.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Birmingham 2022: Aquatics centre will 'inspire new generation'". BBC News. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Major Construction Work at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre Site". Commonwealth Games Committee. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "Sandwell Aquatics Centre | Sandwell Council". www.sandwell.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Sandwell Aquatics Centre". Sandwell Borough Council. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "First look at the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Games". Birmingham Mail. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ https://www.gbuwh.co.uk/events/detail/720 [bare URL]
External links
edit52°29′23″N 1°59′22″W / 52.489600°N 1.989395°W
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