Sunderland City Council’s Online Content Manager, Lee Ridley, went along to experience it for the first time:

“Having never been to the Sunderland Aquatic Centre before, I was excited about my first visit. I’d seen it from the outside before. In fact, I had watched it rise from the ground over the past few years and been suitably impressed. So I was curious as to whether the inside would be just as good.

The first thing that struck me when entering the main pool area was its size. It looks big from the outside but inside it really is huge. The clean look of the place, the beams in the roof structure and the way that the rippling water reflected off the roof all made an impression on me.

Then came the unmistakable smell and sound of the pool. If I had closed my eyes, it could have been any pool, if I had opened them again, it could only be one. With a scoreboard welcoming us to the centre, the diving pool at one end and the changing rooms at the other, altogether it was a quite breathtaking experience.

The performance for those community groups from all over the region who will make sure that Sunderland Aquatic Centre is utilised to the full was just as breathtaking. From the amazing acrobatic display by local performers, to the cute kids splashing about, to the best young talent in the area showcasing their abilities, the pool really was a hive of activity. The spotlight was literally on the swimmers and divers of the future as they showed off the facilities available.

But the best was yet to come. Despite the pouring rain, thousands of expectant people had gathered outside to see the outdoor spectacular. The fact that so many people turned up regardless of the bad weather is testament to the level of excitement and anticipation among the general public towards the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

We all might have been wet, we all might have been cold, but no-one cared as a performer ‘swam’ across the night sky and plunged into an animation projected against the wall of the centre to start the proceedings.

What followed was a quite surreal but entertaining journey through the history of the city using animation. Accompanying this was a very atmospheric light and music display, which at times mesmerised me. The music especially hitting a nerve. I never knew water could have so much style either as I watched a performance by artists wearing costumes which fired it in every direction possible. All this combined with fantastic fireworks made for an amazing spectacle.

A very fitting start to the life of the Sunderland Aquatic Centre."

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last updated 21/04/08