The Aquatics Centre

The state-of-the-art Aquatics Centre – where the 2012 Olympics’ Swimming, Paralympic Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo events will be held – will act as a ‘front door’ to the 2012 Olympics and be one of the most significant architectural elements of the games . Find out why it is already being called the ‘Wembley for swimming’.

The Aquatics Centre will be the gateway to the Olympic Park.

During the games the Aquatics Centre will offer a capacity of 17,500 seats for the main competition pool and diving, and 5,000 seats for the water polo venue.

Unlike many of the facilities built for previous Olympics, which have been little used after the Games, the design of the Aquatics Centre means many of the features being added are a temporary overlay, offering a life after the games for the building.

After the Olympics, 2,500 temporary seats will be removed and a leisure water facility added turning the Centre into a permanent water amenity fixture for the Stratford community.

In legacy the Aquatics Centre will play a major role in building a more active and healthy community in the East End of London and will act as a focal point in relation to healthy activity, combating obesity and improving health.

Find out about the vision for the Aquatics Centre in legacy mode.

You can view the progress of the aquatics centre here via webcam.

_{Images: London 2012}