London prepares… British Gas Swimming Championships 2012

The British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 (Selection Trials) offered a second opportunity to see the aquatic centre up close. Unlike the sold out diving test event in February, tickets for the swimming trials were still available the week before. I snapped up a ticket for one of the morning heats and enjoyed the chance to see the aquatic centre in a different configuration.

The incredibly curvaceous exterior design of the aquatic centre

The jarring combination of the permanent and temporary parts of the aquatic centre

The diving pool in the aquatic centre

The stunning interior of the aquatic centre

The attractive underbelly of the temporary extensions to the aquatic centre!

Two swimmers pass in opposite directions during the morning warm-up

The interior presented a stunning and intimate view, though it took a few moments to adjust to the somewhat tropical environment. Admittedly, I was a little overdressed wearing a shirt and tie ready for an afternoon at work! I soon found my seat and settled in for an enjoyable couple of hours watching the heats, assisted by a helpful commentary team. The attention to detail and friendly welcome that were the hallmarks of my visit bode well for the main event this summer. It will be interesting to read how the experiences of those attending the Olympics compare to these test events, and even more fascinating to see this venue in in its post-games guise.