“Give Us Nothing”: Paris Olympics 2024 Pool Construction Leaves Some Fans Feeling Empty

With the Paris Olympics 2024, just a few months away from now, the reconstructed swimming pool and arena shall be the highlight this summer with over 4,000 solar panels and an innovative concave wooden beam structure. Recovering from the past challenging experience of the fire incident during construction last year, World Aquatics has tried its best to restore the architecture, after meticulous planning by implanting sustainable inputs.

Hosting diving, water polo, and artistic swimming events from July 27 to August 10 at the French capital, the Olympics Aquatic Center has lately announced its renovated pool design and facilities for the grandiose Olympic Games. But it seems that fans were quite disheartened at the same old architecture that did not foster any innovation in its making. They vented that over social media.

A post on X by a swimming enthusiast pointed out, “The wood beams and walls, the concrete, the white plastic chairs? I’m not into this architectural design…it all just feels a little dated.”

Soon there were multiple other fans too who joined this discourse of not getting appealed by the reconstructed pool ahead of Paris Olympics 2024. “Go girl give us nothing“, said another fan who also felt pretty sad at no freshness being delivered in the built.

“Bro the cold war called and it wants its aquatic center back“, stated another disheartened swimming enthusiast.

While some shared a

stonewalled kind of a gif, others didn’t refrain from writing, “Whenever I’ve been in a pool like this the lighting at night was terrible. We will see how it is this summer”, anticipating negativity already.

Some remarked that the Olympics Aquatic Center could have been built in the old school way or a very modern way, but this basic building, was the least

expected of everything, “I wanna see a pool designed like ancient pools. Give me arches on deck! Sight lines would be crap but these things all go to waste anyway.” Although the fans seemed to be unhappy, the organizers claimed to have incorporated several interesting features in the design. Most notable among those are probably the sustainability factors. Let us take a look.

An architectural innovation, according to the organizers

The curved roof of the aquatic center is something that catches attention immediately. The structure is supported by the largest concave timber frame in the world, spanning 90 meters and using a framework of more than 2,700 m³ of wood. But why such an unconventional shape was planned?

“As for the shape, we said to ourselves that what costs the most money in a swimming pool is heating the air, treating the temperature and the level of humidity. So we came up with the idea of a stretched, concave roof that fits as closely as possible to the volume we need,” Laure Mériaud, an architect of the project. But that is not the only marvel.

The photovoltaic cells on the roof will capture the sun’s energy. It will also collect rainwater for its shape. The plastic chairs that fans are discarding are made from eco-responsible materials, according to the organizers. “These are seats made from plastic bottle caps,” said Patrick Ollier, president of the Greater Paris Metropolitan Area. The pool also has a vision for the future.

While inaugurating the pool, French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “We also want these structures to remain, as with the Olympic and Paralympic Village. For us, this is one of the big elements of heritage.” It remains to be seen if the perception of the fans about the pool changes as the games go live.

Read More: Video: Fire Rages at Paris Olympics’ Pool Under Construction a Year Ahead of the Mega Games