Paris 2024

The Olympic Aquatic Centre, a legacy for athletes and soon for the public

— Published on May 15, 2025

Nine months later, the Saint-Denis Aquatic Center has returned to the excitement of international competition. Specially built for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the arena began its new life by hosting the Giant Open from May 9 to 11. The swimming event attracted Olympic medalists such as Ben Proud, Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, Maxime Grousset, Marrit Steenbergen, and Béryl Gastaldello. A promising debut ahead of the European Championships, which will be held there in August 2026, and a tangible legacy for Paris 2024.

“One of the best swimming pools in Europe”

During the Games, the Olympic Aquatic Centre hosted artistic swimming, diving, and part of the water polo competition. The Giant Open was therefore a baptism of fire for competitive swimming. The athletes were unanimous. "It's very different from La Défense Arena, but it's a fantastic pool. The architecture is impressive and you immediately feel that it's a fast pool", confides Ben Proud, estimating that "this pool could become one of the best in Europe".

The Centre, which can seat up to 5.000 people for major events, was also able to shine a brighter light on the Giant Open, a new competition on the calendar, the first two editions of which took place at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye dome. “It’s a beautiful pool, we really feel like we’re in a world championship”, adds Beryl Gastaldello, second in the 50m freestyle. And it will look even more impressive with the Olympic rings, which will be installed in the coming weeks, as confirmed by the Paris Metropolis.

Open to the public in June

The Games have enabled France to acquire a modern infrastructure, ticking all the boxes for major competitions, as evidenced by the organization of the 2026 European Championships, a first for the country since 1987. The French Swimming Federation will also set up its diving center there and train on site. "It is the only French diving board approved at ten meters for international level synchronized diving", says Patrick Ollier, president of the Greater Paris Metropolis. This legacy will not, however, be limited to high-level athletes, since the project was designed to serve the population: sports associations, schools and the general public will also be able to get into the water from June 2.

"We have a real challenge in learning to swim, particularly here in Seine-Saint-Denis, where one in two young people cannot swim when they start sixth grade, explains the president of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse. There is also a desire to spread this learning everywhere. This Olympic Aquatic Center is the flagship of this project, surrounded by around a hundred new pools financed by the Region. The authorities have already announced that the CAO, for which around fifty jobs have been created, will be the venue for the School Sports Olympics, “every year, in June”. From beginners to high-level athletes, from baby swimmers to Olympic medalists, Paris 2024 will be alive for everyone in the Saint-Denis swimming pool.