Myrtha Pools recognised for supporting records and sustainability at Doha World Aquatics Championships

World Aquatics has acknowledged Myrtha Pools for its role at the just completed 21st World Aquatics Championships - Doha.

As a partner of World Aquatics since 2009, the global governing body for aquatic sport advised “Myrtha Pools has contributed significantly to the aquatic infrastructure of the championships by manufacturing and installing five pools in Qatar's capital city.

“Through relentless research and development efforts, Myrtha has achieved numerous technological breakthroughs in the pool industry, garnering exclusive patents along the way. Before Doha 2024, an impressive 169 world records had already been broken in Myrtha Pools. The count surged to 170 with the addition of a new world record in the men's 100m freestyle event, achieved by 19-year-old Chinese sprinter Pan Zhanle, showcasing the pools' top-notch quality and performance.

“One of the key highlights of Myrtha's contribution lies in its exclusive modular stainless-steel technology, known for its versatility and sustainability. This technology enables the creation of perfect settings for aquatic sports, whether for temporary events like the World Aquatics Championships or for permanent facilities. By opting for temporary structures, Myrtha avoids the pitfalls of constructing underutilised arenas post-event, ensuring efficient resource utilisation.”

At the Aspire Dome in Doha, covering an area of 40,000 metre² and designed by acclaimed architect Roger Tallibert, Myrtha installed four pools - two Olympic-sized pools for swimming and two for water polo, catering to both warm-up sessions and competitions.

World Aquatics added “notably, a fifth Myrtha pool stands out as one of the deepest ever constructed for a temporary event, measuring 6 meters deep and serving as the target for high divers performing daring feats from platforms as high as 27 or 20 meters above the pool surface.

“Beyond Doha, Myrtha Pools demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by repurposing materials used in previous Olympic and Paralympic Games. In Fukuoka, Japan, stainless steel panels and gutters originally utilised in the Tokyo 2020 Games found new life in warm-up pools and permanent facilities for elementary schools, showcasing Myrtha's dedication to environmental responsibility.”

In a statement on its technology, Myrtha advised “beyond the advantages of time and cost savings for these special events, the modular pool structure can be dismantled post-event and re-installed in a permanent facility.

“This innovative approach ensures that the legacy of major aquatic events contributes to the growth of aquatic sports in the region, providing efficient and durable pools designed to encourage public use through a dedicated aquatic centre.”

Here Myrtha pointed to the pools it installed for the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi. After the event the pools were reinstalled in the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub.

Myrtha also advised that - as it did for the World Championships in Budapest (2017) and Gwangju (2019) - it installed high-diving pool in a landmark location, on this occasion at the Doha Old Port.

Looking ahead, World Aquatic added “the journey of Myrtha Pools extends to Bahrain, where the pools used in Doha will find a new purpose at the World Aquatics training centre.

“With existing training centres in various locations worldwide, including Thanyapura (Thailand), Dakar (Senegal), Cape Town (South Africa) and Davie (Florida, USA), Bahrain will join the ranks in supporting World Aquatics athletes in a conducive environment.”

Facts on the Myrtha Pools in Doha

• 61.500 bolts and anchors to assemble the panels, buttresses, struts, and base frame.

• 69,9 tons of Myrtha stainless steel components.

• 11.685 metre³ of water to fill the pools.

• 45% savings on emissions over traditional pool-building methods that involve concrete and tiles.

To contact Myrtha Pools' Australian and New Zealand representative, click here to visit the Myrtha Pools listing in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory. 

Images: Myrtha's main competition pool at Doha's Aspire Zone (top, credit: Myrtha Pools), World Aquatics acknowledges Myrtha's partnership during competition (middle, credit: Giorgio Scala/Deep Blue Media) and the outdoor pool as Aspire Zone (below, credit: Myrtha Pools)