Paris 2024, Olympic Games
From 26 July to 8 September, Paris hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games. For this edition of the Games, Myrtha Pools installed an impressive total of 24 pools. Beyond this record number for Paris 2024, the variety of pools is equally remarkable.
The pools built in the Paris La Défense Arena, the Olympic Aquatic Centre (OAC), and the Château de Versailles gardens hosted the official Olympic and Paralympic competitions. Additionally, Myrtha Pools constructed pools at other aquatic Centres in Montreuil, Aubervilliers, Colombes, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Marville, and Taverny, which were designated as training facilities for athletes and, after the Games, are now accessible to the broader community.
One of the main competition venues was the Paris La Défense Arena, the largest indoor arena in Europe. Here, Myrtha installed two 50-metre pools in just 36 days: one for swimming competitions and water polo finals, and the other for athlete warm-ups. The atmosphere inside the arena provided an unforgettable experience for both spectators and athletes, with 19 new Olympic records, including 4 World Records, being set.
Another key venue was the Olympic Aquatic Centre, where a permanent competition pool of exceptional size and flexibility (70 x 25 metres) – the largest in Europe – was delivered. This pool hosted diving, artistic swimming, and preliminary water polo competitions during the Games. Its two movable bulkheads allow for ten different configurations, while a movable floor section further enhances its versatility.
The most prestigious location for a Myrtha competition pool in Paris was undoubtedly the Château de Versailles gardens. Here, a temporary 25 x 16-metre pool was installed to host the modern pentathlon competitions.
Versailles photo credit: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa/Alamy Live News
From 26 July to 8 September, Paris hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games. For this edition of the Games, Myrtha Pools installed an impressive total of 24 pools. Beyond this record number for Paris 2024, the variety of pools is equally remarkable.
The pools built in the Paris La Défense Arena, the Olympic Aquatic Centre (OAC), and the Château de Versailles gardens hosted the official Olympic and Paralympic competitions. Additionally, Myrtha Pools constructed pools at other aquatic Centres in Montreuil, Aubervilliers, Colombes, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Marville, and Taverny, which were designated as training facilities for athletes and, after the Games, are now accessible to the broader community.
One of the main competition venues was the Paris La Défense Arena, the largest indoor arena in Europe. Here, Myrtha installed two 50-metre pools in just 36 days: one for swimming competitions and water polo finals, and the other for athlete warm-ups. The atmosphere inside the arena provided an unforgettable experience for both spectators and athletes, with 19 new Olympic records, including 4 World Records, being set.
Another key venue was the Olympic Aquatic Centre, where a permanent competition pool of exceptional size and flexibility (70 x 25 metres) – the largest in Europe – was delivered. This pool hosted diving, artistic swimming, and preliminary water polo competitions during the Games. Its two movable bulkheads allow for ten different configurations, while a movable floor section further enhances its versatility.
The most prestigious location for a Myrtha competition pool in Paris was undoubtedly the Château de Versailles gardens. Here, a temporary 25 x 16-metre pool was installed to host the modern pentathlon competitions.
Versailles photo credit: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa/Alamy Live News
Sustainability and innovation
Adhering to themes of sustainability and innovation, the two Myrtha pools at La Défense Arena have also been equipped with the special R-Evolution membrane, which is made from 60 percent recycled materials, and is 100 percent recyclable. This flooring option was launched by Myrtha Pools specifically for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, which is the first Olympiad to be based on the principle of a circular economy.
For the first time ever, a competition pool featured the innovative Myrtha Breathe system, which removes volatile disinfection by-products from the water, creating a cleaner and safer aquatic environment for athletes, coaches and staff.
Paris Legacy
For Myrtha, the Olympic Games also represent a commitment to post-competition legacy. Our temporary facilities are designed and constructed with future reconfiguration in mind. Approximately 80% of the materials used in the Paris 2024 pools, including structural elements, accessories, and water treatment systems with regenerative media filtration and chlorine disinfection, will be reused in the legacy phase.
After Paris 2024, the Myrtha temporary pools will be reinstalled to three public aquatic Centres. The competition pool will be installed in Sevran, while Bagnolet will receive half of the warm-up pool. Both sites will contribute to expanding the aquatic infrastructure of Seine-Saint-Denis, an area deeply in need of pools, as nearly 6 of 10 children here have not yet learned to swim. While the other half of the warm-up pool will be reinstalled in a French aquatic centre. Thanks to Myrtha technology, Paris 2024’s aquatic legacy will positively impact citizens and future champions in these areas.
Installation timelapse
The Myrtha installation teams had six weeks to build two Olympic-size pools inside the Paris La Défense Arena, then fill and heat 5,000 cubic metres of water. The goal was achieved in just 36 days.