Centre designed with community use at its heart
The lasting impact of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games continues as Sandwell Aquatics Centre opens to the public.
Including a 50m pool, 10m dive tower, and 25m diving pool, the centre hosted all aquatics events at last year’s Games, but was designed with community use at its heart.
The only new venue for the Games, Sport England invested £2.5m into the project to enable it to serve the Commonwealth’s best athletes, as well as the general public.
And Sport England chairman, Chris Boardman, was present for the ceremonial opening of the centre, along with executive director of place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne, and paralympic swimmer, Ellie Simmonds.
“From the global spotlight of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, it is brilliant to now see Sandwell Aquatics Centre open its doors to the public and really kickstart its post-Games legacy,” Boardman said.
“From here, the centre will serve the communities of Sandwell, helping to support the health and wellbeing of those who pass through its doors.”
From the global spotlight of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, it is brilliant to now see Sandwell Aquatics Centre open its doors to the public and really kickstart its post-Games legacy
As part of Sandwell Council’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan, the three existing swimming clubs in the area have come together to form Sandwell Aquatics Club, which will now be based at the centre – as will a new regional diving club.
The plan also included the development of a swimming programme that meets the needs of local residents and schools – with the community benefiting from the other services housed at the centre on top of the competition facilities.
These include:
