Mayor: No roof, no worries for Phelps
MAYOR Tom Tate is shrugging off lingering concern about the roofless Aquatic Centre hosting the Commonwealth Games swimming, saying it’s “quintessential Gold Coast” not to have one.
The venue hosts the Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Trials from tomorrow, which are crucial for Games qualifying, and it was unveiled yesterday largely as it will appear for the Games in April.
It boasts a 12,000 seat temporary viewing stadium, but asked about the much-debated lack of a roof, Cr Tate told media: “I reflect back to when we ran the Pan Pacific Games right here. I recall that it rained a little bit there and I spoke to Mike Phelps right before I handed him his gold medal and I said ‘Mate, what do you think?’
“He said it didn’t affect him that much and as long as there was no lightning, he was quite happy with it.
“If it’s good enough for Mike Phelps, it’s good enough for me.”
During the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships Cr Tate referred to, spectators were forced to sit through days of pelting rain which led to swimming’s governing body FINA saying it would be unlikely to hold any future state or national events at the Southport site.
A $41 million redevelopment of the complex to get it Games ready has included installation of a new 50-metre, 10-lane competition swimming pool and gym – but no roof.
It was a joint project by the Palaszczuk Government and City of Gold Coast which Games Minister Kate Jones yesterday said had made the Coast one of the best places on the planet to watch swimming.
Cr Tate promised to personally towel down any gold medal winners if it was raining during the Games: “I will rub them down and make sure they are dry, don’t worry.
“It’s quintessential Gold Coast not to have the roof. Really it’s the best part of the pool, the fresh air.
“You go to Northern Hemisphere, Glasgow and you walk in and your eyes are watering not because you’re happy, it’s because the chlorine is burning your eyes. This one, you’re smiling we’ve got no chlorine on us.”
Cr Tate said the revamped facility – to be known as the Optus Aquatic Centre during the Games – was a legacy for the city, with patronage more than tripling from 170,000 users annually when opened in 2014 to 590,000 last year.
“The legacy speaks for itself,” Cr Tate said.
Australia head swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren said despite rain during the Pan Pacs it didn’t affect performance and it went well.
“But moving forward if you wanted to have World Champs or Olympics, FINA doesn’t allow championships in outdoor pools anymore.”