'As good as you'll get anywhere in the world' is the verdict of serious swimmers on the new Aquatic Centre, writes Ian O'Riordan
The 50-metre pool opened yesterday as part of the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin will provide Irish swimming with training and competition facilities to rival the best in the world. Swim Ireland, which governs all aspects of the sport, has called it the start of a new era.
"It's vital for Swim Ireland that we have something like this in the country," said Ms Claire Mulholland, former swimming coach and now press officer with Swim Ireland.
"We are thrilled and delighted to see it finished, and it's as good as you'll get anywhere in the world."
Swim Ireland will be allocated 1,300 hours a year - roughly 3½ hours a day - to use the pool for training and competition. Several members of the elite training squads tested the pool yesterday.
Ms Mulholland said: "Up to now we've been totally limited in Ireland to short-course 25-metre competitions. Some of our elite swimmers would have been going in long-course championships already, but this will give the junior swimmers the taste for it as well.
"It will take them a few years to get accustomed to it, but it's exciting for everyone involved in Irish swimming. It's also a total inspiration to all the younger swimmers out there."
Mr John Treacy, chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, called it a "world-class facility" which finally provided the country with a proper training base.
"It fills our need for a dedicated swimming facility that can match the role of Swim Ireland in terms of rolling out elite swimmers. We're also hoping that we have more people participating, because at the end of the day that's where our elite swimmers come from.
"Being so close to the M50, it's ideal. That really opens up the amount of people that can be accommodated by the facility."
Mr Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, was "knocked back" by the standard of the facility and is confident that it can help to produce future Olympic medallists.
"Straight away, I think it's going to be a huge benefit for the Irish team preparing for next summer's Olympics in Athens. They now have a first-class facility to practise in on their own doorstep, rather than having to go away somewhere.
"But long term, this facility won't really kick in until the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The athletes we have now have been training for Athens for the last six or seven years now. But for those thinking about Beijing this facility will be truly fantastic."