The City of Ottawa would plan to spend about $5 million at its aquatics centre at the Nepean Sportsplex in time for the 2021 Canada Summer Games, if it wins the bid. Improvements could include new floor tiles and a better ventilation system.
Ottawa is preparing to dive into an agreement with Carleton University that could create a new world-class aquatic centre, potentially putting the city back on the map for national competitions.The Nepean Sportsplex was built in 1974 when Ottawa's population was less than half of what it is now. Its lack of modern amenities is one big reason why the swimming and diving community is excited about the potential for a new world-class aquatic centre.
Despite multiple repairs, the 50-year-old sportsplex and its aging infrastructure is no longer viable for anything but regional competitions — something Alex Perreault, a swimmer who's competed on multiple national teams, feels needs to change."There's that advantage of playing at home," he said. "Knowing how you feel in the pool, being in the comfort of your own house ... changes the game, the level of readiness and the prep.
Ottawa's population has more than doubled since the sportsplex was built, Fleury said, and the existing facilities can't meet the demand of both the community and high-performance athletes."As a capital city, not being able to host Canada Summer Games or Canada Winter Games poses questions," Fleury said. "The fact that we're a capital city here in Ottawa, we deserve ... a national, international-level pool.
Some Ottawa athletes have to travel hours away to train in places like Toronto, where this 10-lane, 50-metre pool at the Pan Am Sports Centre is located.
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