Manchester, United Kingdom
Resounding success at the 9th World Swimming Championships in Manchester
The 9th FINA World Aquatics Championships, for which Fluidra was an official supplier, were held at the Manchester Arena (United Kingdom) in April 2008. A total of 18 world records, 40 world championship records and 85 continental records contributed to the huge success obtained by Fluidra at these Championships: the two temporary pools installed in the facility. This year the Championships also established a participation record with 616 athletes coming from 116 countries. After the success of the 2006 championships in Shanghai and in Melbourne in 2007, the AstralPool holding, which belongs to Fluidra’s POOL division, signed the agreement that appointed it a sponsor and official partner of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) for the third consecutive year. For the 9th World Swimming Championships, there were 25,500 spectators who watched Ryan Lochte and Kirsty Coventry win the trophies for highest scoring male and female, and the United States team won the trophy for overall performance.
Description of Fluidra's scope
Design, supply and installation of two main pools, the 25 x 25 x 2 m competition pool and the 25 x 15 x 2 m warm-up pool, in addition to the rest of the installations, such as the podium, the media area, the carpet and the audio and video equipment. The competition pool it's a free-standing Skypool fully equipped with a filtration system. The installation of these pools in the arena specifically required not damaging the facilities. To achieve this, Fluidra used Skypool technology, which comprises separate hot-galvanized steel panels. This system, developed and certified by the company, makes it possible to anchor the pool without screwing a single screw into the floor of the arena.