Water Polo Arena - Olympic Park

Sport: Water Polo

Distinguishable by its silver-coloured wrap and inflatable roof, the temporary Water Polo Arena is located in the southeast corner of the Olympic Park, alongside the Aquatics Center.

It is the first dedicated Water Polo venue to be built for an Olympic Games.

The design and build

The London 2012 Water Polo Arena is the first bespoke Water Polo venue for an Olympic Games.

The venue has a 37m competition pool plus a smaller training pool, and capacity for 5,000 spectators. It is one of the first venues seen by spectators as they enter the Park.

To give visitors to the Park a clear view, the architects proposed a unique sloping design, which slopes upwards from 6m to 25m. It also means the referee’s raised table used in Water Polo does not obscure the view of spectators, who sit on the opposite side of the pool.

The Water Polo Arena is a very sustainable venue. Many of the parts used in the build, such as the temporary seating, have been hired so they can easily be returned and reused after the Games. The silver skin of the venue is made from an environmentally-friendly PVC that can also be recycled.

Construction started in spring 2011 and was completed in May 2012 in time for test events before the Games.

After the Games

The lightweight venue will be taken down after the Games, and elements of the venue are expected to be reused or relocated elsewhere.