Montreal and the 2026 Diving World Cup: How RenovAction Renewed an Olympic Icon

After hosting the Olympic Games in 1976 and the World Aquatics Championships in 2005, Montreal is a classic destination for international swimming and diving competitions. From February 26 to March 1, 120 athletes representing over 20 nations will compete in Montreal's Olympic Park for the first stop of the 2026 Diving World Cup.

“Once again, the world’s diving elite return to Montreal, Canada, to open the 2026 Diving World Cup from 26 February to 1 March. A renowned host of major sporting events, including the 1976 Olympics and 2005 World Aquatics Championships, Montreal has a rich diving history, having hosted 14 World Aquatics Diving World Cup and Grand Prix events, as well as the 2022 World Junior Diving Championships. The historic Montreal Olympic pool, a hub for both community and elite sport for over 50 years, will once again be the competition venue” said Husain Al-Musallam, World Aquatics President.

The Olympic Park is an iconic sports area designed by architect Roger Taillibert. It’s easy to spot thanks to the Esplanade, the largest stadium in Canada, and the tallest inclined tower in the world. Just beneath the tower, you’ll find the high-performance sports centre for 12 different Olympic disciplines.

As Cédric Essiminy, Public Relations Advisor at the Olympic Park, told us in an interview published in 2023, the centre has two identities. “The centre is a high-performance facility for top athletes, but it is also open to the general public,” he said. “So citizens can swim near Olympic athletes, a special opportunity for children. You can feel the DNA of sports, it’s very inspiring for that practicing swimmer, water polo player or artistic swimmer.”

All the pools were refurbished with RenovAction technology, thus avoiding significant and lengthy demolition works and making them compliant with the latest regulations. “Renovating a site that is unique, we had to be careful to preserve it,” said Essiminy, “and at the same time we wanted to put the facility into the 21st century. That’s why we chose this equipment and technology. For us it was essential to be on par with the best. We are an Olympic facility and we can’t compromise on the level of the equipment. When you renovate you have to stay ‘Olympic,’ and to be ‘Olympic’ is to be the best. So, we had to keep that in mind when we renovated. It’s part of our history. At Parc Olympique, the goal is to train athletes, giving them the closest experience to international competition.”

After 10 years, the Myrtha pools at the Olympic Park are still a state-of-the-art aquatic venue. A cutting-edge facility for both top athletes and citizens, it is perfect for growing tomorrow’s swimming and diving champions.