The approximately $42 million worth of renovations at the Optus Aquatic Centre, formerly known as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, are complete with the venue ready for athletes from around the globe to compete at its inaugural international competition, the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Funded by the Queensland government and the City of Gold Coast, the Centre’s renovations now render the facility equipped with six pools, including a new 50 meter, 10-lane competition pool that was recently used for the Australian Commonwealth Trials.
Having initially opened its doors as the Southport Pool back in 1964, the centre was re-named the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in the early 2000s. It played host to the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, which wound up being a disaster weather-wise, as spectators and swimmers endured days of cold and rainy days in the open-air facility.
Aussie Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren stressed the need for a permanent roof to be included in the upgrades to be undertaken for the Commonwealth Games, however, Games organizers determined back in 2016 that such a structure was ‘not what the State Government sees as needed.’ Instead, a temporary roof is now in place, along with temporary grandstands that can hold an estimated 10,000 fans.
Peruse through the gallery of photos presented on the Commonwealth Games’ official site, which follow the famed center’s different looks throughout the years in preparation for the Games now fewer than 20 days away.
It's quite a transformation that the @Optus Aquatic Centre has been through over the years and now final preparations are being made ahead of @GC2018
See more 🖼️ 👇https://t.co/uCPVjuAcTn pic.twitter.com/CNzU2UbjNn
— Aquatics GB (@Aquatics_GB) March 13, 2018