Dubai unveils its Aqua dream

Having emerged successfully from a scrum of scrutiny at last week's Rugby World Cup Sevens, Dubai is now preparing to make a splash in the world of professional swimming.

The emirate ebulliently thrived where it so easily could have failed last weekend when, in front of the International Olympic Committee, it hosted the pinnacle of rugby's shortened format perfectly.

It was the ideal end to a week that also saw Dubai deepen its ties to water-based sports: The emirate, along with Moscow and Hamburg, was shortlisted to host the 15th edition of the Fina-sanctioned World Aquatics Championships in 2013.

The final decision will be made by the sport's international governing body on July 18, by which time the UAE Swimming Federation's Dubai Sports Complex, will be close to completion.

The arena, which will span 61 acres when it is finished in the first quarter of next year, sits on the edge of Dubailand and is expected to cost in the region of Dh1.1 billion. It is to host the 10th biennial Fina World Short Course Swimming Championships in December 2010.

John Holt, a senior director and architect with UK-based Faulknerbrowns – the company charged with designing the Sports Complex – showcased blueprints of the arena at a recent conference in Dubai.

The two-tier teardrop-shaped facility is home to not only an Olympic-standard 50-metre pool, but also a second 50m pool with a moveable floor, allowing for various depths, and a submersible boom that splits the 50m natatorium into two separate 25m pools. It will also have a third 25m training pool that can be used for diving.

"Facilities have to be flexible and adaptable to succeed," said Holt. "The Dubai sports complex can allow for a 50m pool, which could be used for waterpolo or synchronised swimming. But, at the touch of a button, it a can become a 25m pool, so immediately you have flexibility."

The seating plan allows for 15,000 spectators, but, again, flexibility has been ensured by splitting the seating into two tiers allowing for smaller events –≠which may only command crowds of around 3,000 – the ability to remain intimate.

Holt pointed to Australia when explaining the need for multi-functional abilities.

Despite hosting a magnificent Olympics in 2000, he said, Sydney faced "at least three years" of serious recession because the city had not considered the long term future of its newly constructed stadia.

"That is why the largest contribution to the [Dubai Sports Complex] in terms of flexibility is that you can take the water out and create a staging system over the pool that allows dry sports to be played," he said.

The result of such a conversion means the venue can host volleyball, badminton, basketball and tennis events and thus remain sustainable all year round.

In terms of external design, the arena is a mammoth golden tear-drop similar in size to the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. But while the Finnish facility is flat-roofed, the Academy's is curved.

"Essentially, the complex is a windowless box," said Holt. "So by draping a synthetic 'skin' over the structure we are able to control the light inside. Most arenas [of this nature] are pretty tedious and that was not the plan for Dubai. We wanted to create an iconic, distinguishable form."

In the teardrop Holt has achieved his goal. And, who knows, perhaps next year the Complex's rich glow can lure swimming's current golden boy Michael Phelps to Dubai.

That would certainly make the splash the emirate so desires.


Fina Bureau meeting in Dubai

Fina, the international governing body for swimming, held the first of three consecutive bureau meetings yesterday in Dubai.

The most prominent topic to be discussed at the three-day executive board meetings surrounds the legality of the controversial LZR swimsuits, which are credited for having helped break 108 world records in 2008 and were worn by athletes at last year's Beijing Olympics, including Michael Phelps who won a record eight gold medals.

"Everyone is talking about the swimsuits," said Fina president Mustapha Larfaoui before yesterday's opening session in the emirate. "It's a pity that we do not speak about the swimmers and all the hard work that they put in to get themselves prepared for competition. On average, each swimmer trains for more than 12 kilometres each day."

Fina will announce its ruling on the speedsuits on Saturday following the final day of discussions.

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