As the summer Olympics approached, there were many questions about how many megalitres of water would be available for the various swimming events. Although many Olympic swimming pools have 50-metre (164 ft) lanes, the water depth can vary between 25-metres and 30-metres (yards). The 2008 Olympics in Beijing proved to be a major point of controversy when the Chinese authorities restricted the water depth to 25-metres (yards) for practical reasons. But even with the shallow end, it’s still a daunting task to complete a swim of four lengths underwater.
What is a megalitre? While US gallons (3.8 L) and British gallons (1.8 L) might not seem like much, a megalitre is a million liters (258,932 US gallons or 462,847 British gallons). So, a 50-metre (164 ft) pool with a depth of 3.0 metres (10 ft) would hold 20,000 litres (4,407.2 US gallons or 1,064.64 British gallons). The number could also be expressed in terms of a cubic metre (1,016.8 cu ft or 111.1 cu yards), where a cubic metre is a million liters.
The question was: how many megalitres of water would be available? To answer this, the Sydney Olympic Pool Authority (SOPA) worked with the International Swimming Federation (ISF) to devise a plan. This plan called for the creation of a “megatank”, a large water tank that could store 20,000-30,000 cubic metres of water. The tank would be approximately five metres high, five metres wide and five metres deep.
The plan was to use two pumps, one for injecting water and one for drawing it out. The pumps would supply a continuous flow of water at a steady pace, preventing the water level from fluctuating.
While this might be the case with a traditional Olympic swimming pool, other alternatives exist. For instance, the 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London. The water for the games came from the frozen Thames River, which was stored in a temporary ice rink that was built in the middle of the park. This meant that there was no need for a large water tank, as the water level could be adjusted by simply melting the ice.
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The Problems With Conventional Pools
There are many problems with relying on conventional pools for large-scale events. To begin with, the water in a pool is always at a certain level, which prevents it from being used in the “free” (unbilled) swimming part of the games. This is because the water level needs to be maintained a certain distance from the pool’s edge so that the users don’t slip and fall in the water. It would also mean that hotels and other venues would need to pay for the use of these pools.
Another problem with conventional pools is that they require constant maintenance. This is because the water quality must be monitored and treated so that it is fit for human consumption. Pools also need to be cleaned regularly, especially if they are located in highly populated areas. This is because a lot of the water used for swimming comes from showers and hoses connected to homes and businesses across the street. So a lot of chemicals are being washed down the drain, which can’t be good for the environment.
If a conventional pool is to be used for the athletic events, it will need to be deepened. This means that either the entire pool or a section of it will need to be emptied and filled with water. The process of deepening a pool is not only time-consuming, but it also requires a lot of manpower. It is not easy to monitor the water level while digging a hole in the ground to increase the pool’s depth by a few metres. This is also why it is better to build a temporary structure for the event, as the process of deepening a pool is both laborious and expensive.
Tank-Based Pools Are The Future
Tank-based pools offer numerous advantages. To begin with, they can be used for both competition and leisure swimming. This is because the water is contained in an enclosed space, which prevents it from being contaminated by dust or dirt. It is also contained in a large space, which means that there is more than enough room for everyone involved in the event.
This is important, as not enough room might mean having to limit the number of participants or even cancel the event. Tank-based pools also prevent the spread of infectious diseases, as they are not open to the public and can be cleaned by simply pouring chemicals into them.
It is also worth pointing out that, although they are large, tank-based pools are highly portable. This is because they can be set up and dismantled in a matter of hours. They don’t require a lot of space and can be taken along whenever needed. This is why they are popular choices, especially among high school and college athletes, who travel a lot and need to bring along their pool with them.
While conventional pools might be suitable for some venues, such as beaches or lakeside venues, they are certainly not ideal for large-scale sporting events. This is because they don’t provide the necessary infrastructure for the event. In particular, they don’t have the proper lighting, which could be problematic in some situations. In addition, as we mentioned above, cleaning them is not an easy task, which could also prove to be problematic. Finally, the water pressure is not always sufficient to provide the right speed and depth for competitive swimming.
If you are looking for a pool that is suitable for hosting large-scale sporting events, then a tank-based pool is the way to go. These days, they are not that uncommon and can be found wherever there is enough space. And, as the saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. This is because the situation presents an opportunity to create a unique blend of sweet and tart that will be appreciated by everyone.