Sports	Diving Swimming Synchronised Swimming Paralympic Swimming Modern Pentathlon
Capacity	17,500
Post Olympics	Pools open for use by community and athletes
Architect / Builders	Zaha Hadid / Balfour Beatty
Time to build	Three years
Cost	£269 million ($436 million)

Called the gateway to the Olympic Park because it is the first of the Olympic venues visitors will see when they enter the park, the Aquatics Centre will be host to 192 events during London 2012.

The majority of supporters will be seated in two separate temporary wings, and after the games the capacity will be reduced from 17,500 to 2,500.

10,000 square metres of aluminium were used to line the roof of the Acquatics Stadium, and in keeping with the sustainability principle water from the pool will be recycled and used to flush the stadium's toilets.

The wave like centre was designed by renowned international architect Zaha Hadid, and the majority of spectators will arrive via a vast land bridge spanning a railway line, river and the centre's training pool.

Its unique design means the venue's roof rests on two main concrete supports. 

10 million litres of water have been used to fill the centre's pools.

The venue's pools have moveable floors and booms, whilst back of house facilities such as catering and security will be shared with the neighbouring Water Polo Arena in what is one of the most compressed areas of the Olympic Park.

A public plaza will be opened after the Games, when it is opened to the public as part of the post-games Legacy plans.



The Aquatics Centre is one of the most iconic at the Olympic Park, which is the largest of its kind since the 19th century and is built on a series of revitalised canals.

And the River Lea which runs through the park is host to ancient settlements dating back to the bronze and iron ages.

During construction four skeletons were discovered on the site of the Aquatics Centre from a prehistoric settlement, as well as evidence of an Iron Age settlement.

192 events will take place at the Centre during the Games as the likes of Rebecca Adlington and Michael Phelps compete for Olympic honours.