S’pore’s world c’ships arena to remain in use for public, national aquatic athletes until 2030
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Fans cheering on Egyptian artistic swimmers Zeina Amr and Maryam Samer during the World Aquatics Championships at the WCH Arena on July 18.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Follow topic:
- The World Aquatics Championships Arena will remain open for the public and national athletes until 2030.
- At the recent world championships, three world records and 12 championship records were set at the venue.
- Singapore may host future events like the SEA Games at the venue, complementing existing facilities like the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
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SINGAPORE – By end-October, Singaporeans will be able to swim in the same pool in which French superstar Leon Marchand broke the men’s 200m individual medley world record in a blistering 1min 52.69sec
On Oct 15, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo announced that the WCH Arena, a temporary facility, will not be removed but will be open for national athletes and public use until 2030.
In a written response to a parliamentary question by Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC), he said: “The World Aquatics Championships Arena received positive feedback from international and local spectators, athletes and officials.
“Following the completion of a feasibility study, we are pleased to announce that the use of the WCH Arena will be extended until 2030. The WCH Arena will complement existing ActiveSG swimming facilities, and be open for public use and national team training.”
The 4,800-capacity WCH Arena is expected to be open for public use by end-October, with more details to be shared in the coming weeks.
He added that the WCH Arena could also host future events such as the SEA Games and Asean Para Games when the Republic stages the biennial regional meets in 2029 – as The Straits Times had earlier reported – with the nearby 3,000-seater OCBC Aquatic Centre also capable of hosting international events such as the World Para Swimming Championships.
Built at a car park next to the Leisure Park Kallang mall, the WCH Arena hosted the swimming and artistic swimming events of the world championships,
Before that, the June 19-29 South-east Asia Age Group Aquatics Championships served as a test event.
The WCH Arena features Olympic-sized competition and training pools and the same red OSB11 starting blocks used at Paris 2024.
France's Leon Marchand on the way to breaking the world record in the men's 200m medley semi-finals in the World Aquatics Championships at the WCH Arena on July 30.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Measuring 50m by 26m with a depth of three metres, the pools are notably wider and deeper than the Paris Olympics’ temporary pool at the La Defense Arena, which was also built by Italian contractor Myrtha Pools but was one metre narrower and 2.15m deep.
In addition to the ability to control the water temperatures at 25-28 deg C to optimise performance and comfort, the increased depth reduces water turbulence. Calmer waters generally result in faster times, which led to three world records and 12 more championship records during the world meet.
Other than the world beaters, Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee was also in inspired form
She finished seventh in the 1,500m freestyle final as the second-fastest Asian behind China’s Li Bingjie after setting a national record of 16:01.29 in the heats, with another national record through her 800m split of 8:29.93.
