Olympic-size swimming pool

"Long Course" redirects here. It is not to be confused with long course triathlon.
Olympic swimming pool and starting blocks used for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia

An Olympic-size swimming pool is the type of swimming pool used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is 50 metres in length. This is typically referred to as "long course", distinguishing it from "short course" which applies to competitions in pools that are 25 metres in length. If touch panels are used in competition, then the distance between touch panels should be either 25 or 50 metres to qualify for FINA recognition. This means that Olympic pools are generally oversized, to accommodate touch panels used in competition.

Specifications

FINA specifications for an Olympic-size pool are as follows:[1]

Length 50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Width 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
Depth FR 2 Swimming Pools:[2]

minimum 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) between 1 m and 6 m from ends;
minimum of 1.0 m (3 ft 3 in) elsewhere
FR 3 Swimming Pools for Olympic Games and World Championships:[3]
minimum 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in); recommended 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)

Number of lanes 10
Lane width 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Water temperature 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
Light intensity minimum 1500 lux (140 footcandles)
Volume Based on a nominal depth of 2 m, this is 2,500,000 L (550,000 imp gal; 660,000 US gal)

or, in terms of cubic volume, 2,500 m3 (88,000 cu ft), as is commonly quoted.

There must be two spaces 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide outside lanes 1 and 8 (in effect, two empty lanes).[1] The length of 50 metres (164 ft) must be between the touch pads at the end of each lane, if they are used.[1] If starting blocks are used, then there must be a minimum depth of 1.35 metres from between 1.0 metres from the end of the pool to at least 6.0 metres from the end of the pool. At all other points, the minimum depth is 1.0 metres.[2] If the pool is used for Olympic Games or World Championships, then the minimum depth is increased to 2.0 metres.[3]

A simplified diagram of the FINA long course swimming pool standard.

At FINA's 2009 Congress, rules were approved for 10-lane courses for competition, as an alternative to the more traditional 8-lane course.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "FINA Facilities Rules 2009–2013". FINA. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Facilities Rules: FR 2: Swimming Pools". FINA. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Facilities Rules: FR 3 Swimming Pools for Olympic Games and World Championships". FINA. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2012.