Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre, Swimming center in Marousi, Greece.
The Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre sits in Marousi, north of central Athens, and contains two outdoor pools plus one indoor pool as part of the larger Olympic Sports Complex. The facility offers varied pool types designed to support different aquatic disciplines.
The facility first opened in 1991 for the Mediterranean Games, then underwent major renovations to prepare for the 2004 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. These transformations shaped the venue into its current form.
The open pools host public swimming programmes from late spring to early winter, while in the coldest months the programmes move to the indoor pool. In June 2021 the centre hosted the women's world water polo championship and the Greek national swimming championship. Three new pools were added that year to separate lanes for the public from those for competitive athletes.
Visitors should know that outdoor pools operate only from spring through early fall because they remain uncovered. The indoor facility provides year-round access and is the better choice for exploring during colder months.
A temporary stand built for the 2004 Games, holding 700 tonnes of iron, stayed in place for years and blocked the open pool from getting a licence for international competitions. It was demolished in June 2021, when the centre's pools were renovated and three new ones added.
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