A new indoor thermal pool was taken into use on January 2nd in Laugardalur Health Centre in Reykjavík. The pool is the biggest indoor pool in Iceland, 50 meters and built according to international demands on competition pools.
The new indoor pool is a great improvement for competitions and to the swimming sport generally. Most thermal pools in Iceland are outdoors but it can cause problems for swimming competitions and rehearsals not to have access to indoor pools and other competition facilities, especially in wintertime.
The mayor of Reykjavík, Steinunn Valdís Óskardóttir, congratulated all people present at the opening ceremony and the people of Reykjavík with the new high tech pool. She also said that the pool was not just a pool but “a national swimming stadium” for all Icelandic and international swimmers.
Kristín Rós Hákonardóttir, a holder of many swimming awards and an Olympic gold winner, was the first one to dive in along with nine and ten year old children from different swimming clubs in Reykjavík but the pool will undoubtedly be a an important place for their future competitions.
