"The Dark Hole Ride - not for the faint hearted, this is a high-speed ride with twists and turns through a tube which slowly turns into a river of bends."

One of the The National Aquatic Centre's aptly-named hell-raising attractions could be a metaphor for the genesis and embryonic stages of Ireland's premier €62 million swimming venue at Abbotstown.

Yesterday, in the work-boot and hard-hat procession through the mud pools and scaffolding, a handsome building could be seen flexing its muscle.

From the wood-panelled exterior to the sweep of broad roof over the 50-metre pool and 2,500 seat interior, the media storm that blew up following the Attorney general's report and investigation of the tendering procedure has blown out.

In its place is a vibrant and bullish Dublin Waterworld, the company appointed to operate the Aquatic Centre. The facility should dramatically transform competitive swimming in Ireland.

It is the third 50-metre pool to be built in Ireland and although the University of Limerick has an enviable set-up, nothing compares to the breadth of Abbotstown and its marriage of the aquatic needs of both elite and recreational swimmers.

The host to next summer's Special Olympics and the European Short Course Championships in December 2003, the Olympic-sized pool is also fast. That is expected to attract record-breakers with European and the Michelle de Bruin dominated Irish marks expected to fall.

"At the beginning, it was stressful. It was not pleasant, but we won the contract in all categories," said director John Moriarty.

"We're here now and we've put that behind us. We can operate a facility in Tralee (The Aqua Dome) with 25,000 people and make it profitable.

"We're confident we can make it (Abbotstown) a success with a million people. There are 350,000 people who visit Blanchardstown Shopping Centre every week."

Waterworld expect to run the facility profitably despite the annual running cost of €5 million.

Adjacent to the 50-metre pool - which has adjustable walls that can divide the water into smaller 25-metre units - is an international diving pool. In competitions, the diving pool will be used as a warming-up pool, a requirement from FINA for top-level events.

In keeping with the policy of sport for all, the recreational elements are the ones likely to attract major custom.

The Dark Hole Ride is flanked by The Master Blaster, the Family Flume and The Lazy River, a likely target for the leisurely who prefer to float around the Wave Pool at two miles an hour rather than take on the rapids.

But with Olympic Games and World Championships in mind, it is hoped that the development of elite swimmers can accelerate. Swim Ireland have been allocated 1,300 hours of free pool-time per anum. Of this, five days have been put aside for the running of national and international competitions.

"We expect the doors to open in late February or March," says Waterworld director and former international swimmer Liam Bohan.