In response to reports that the Paris 2024 organizing committee was considering the use of a temporary aquatic facility instead of the originally intended permanent structure, committee member Tony Estanguet spoke out this week in the hopes of clearing up speculation. He conveyed to the press that Paris 2024‘s goal is indeed to leave a legacy with a pool that will survive well after the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have concluded.
Paris 2024 initially proposed a new aquatic facility be built in the Saint-Denis suburb, approximately 6 miles north of the centre of Paris and close to the existing Stade de France that would serve as the Olympic Stadium. The proposed aquatic facility would host 15,000 spectators during the Games, which would be reduced to 2,500 afterwards, and have two 50m swimming pools, plus 2 additional pools for diving. Unlike the aquatic center used in Rio, this newly built site would be a permanent facility, leaving a legacy to the community and French swimming federation after hosting the Olympic swimming, synchronized swimming and diving events in 2024.
Per Le Equipe, Estanguet dispelled the temporary structure speculation, stated, “For a few months now we have been in a process of revising the concept. There will be some adaptations, but regarding the pool, we will keep the principles that have always been stated: there will be a permanent strong heritage in Seine-Saint-Denis around the aquatic center. We leave this permanent legacy for the territory while keeping costs under control. You’ll know more precisely in June but there will be an inheritance including a pool of 50 meters and a diving pit because it is important for the sports movement and for this territory to have this equipment there in a sustainable way after the Games. There will be this legacy at the rendezvous with Paris 2024, in Saint-Denis where it was planned (in front of the Stade de France).
The final decision will be made in June of this year.