Sandwell Aquatics Centre
Sandwell Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility located in Londonderry, Smethwick, West Midlands, England. It will contain 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 additional seating during the Games.[2] Construction began in January 2020 and opened on 12th April 2022 to mark 100 days until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The centre will initially be used for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and is the only venue being constructed for the games.[2] After the games, the centre will undergo redevelopment 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]
References
- ^ "Birmingham 2022: Aquatics centre will 'inspire new generation'". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Major Construction Work at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre Site". Commonwealth Games Committee. 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. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
External links
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