And people will be able to see the whole operation live online - thanks to a webcam set up on the site: http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/50mpool/progress.asp

The £19.8 million Aquatic Centre, designed by Red Box Architecture and being built by Balfour Beatty Construction Limited incorporates a main pool, diving pool and wellness centre. It will be the only one of its kind between Leeds and Edinburgh, providing much needed facilities for the whole of Sunderland and the wider region.

The beams, each one weighing several tonnes and measuring half the length of a football pitch, have been shipped over from Austria where they have been made by specialist firm Wiehag, a leading supplier in the field of timber engineering.

And tomorrow - weather permitting - engineers will begin the delicate job of putting the roof supports in place.

Two cranes brought in specially for the occasion will hoist the beams into place above the pool infrastructure which has been gradually taking shape on the Stadium Park site next to Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Said Council Leader Cllr Bob Symonds: "The installation of the roof beams is a major milestone in the development of the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

"This will be the region's first 50m pool and wellness centre and the only facility of its type between Leeds and Edinburgh.

"Not only will it provide first rate facilities for the whole community - from local people who enjoy swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle to nurturing young talent from across the region - but we also hope we will be successful in our bid to have used as a training base for the 2012 Olympics."

Added Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Cllr Mel Speding: "The Sunderland Aquatic Centre will enthuse and inspire new generations of swimmers. And with more and more people realising the importance of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, the 50 metre pool and wellness centre will provide a vital facility for the whole community."

John Holmes, Director of Regeneration and Tourism at One NorthEast said: “It is great to see the progress being made with the 50m pool and the installation of the roof beams will be another giant step towards our goal of creating a first class sporting venue for the city.

“The pool will be a real asset not just for Sunderland but will nurture North East England’s potential 2012 Olympians while benefitting the general public across the whole region.”

The beams which will support the 52 metre roofspan across the width of the pool have been specially chosen for their sustainabily in line with the city's commitment to sustainablity and the environment.

Made from glued laminated timber from sustainable forests, they will support a super insulated roof designed to both minimise energy use and heating costs.

Facilities at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre, which will serve the whole of Sunderland and the wider region, will include:

- A 25m wide main pool with 10 lanes, a moveable floor and moveable boom to allow maximum flexibility of use.

- A 25m wide multi-purpose diving tank with moveable floor and a variety of double width diving boards.

- Seating for 500 spectators.

The excellent facilities offered by the City's 50m pool mean that it will act as a regional hub for performance swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo as well as attracting high profile national and regional competitions to Sunderland.

At the same time the pool will be very much a community pool providing facilities for local school and nurturing young talent across the region and is one of a number of regional venues put forward as a training base for athletes competing in the 2012 London Olympics.

A state-of-the-art Sunderland Wellness Centre will be attached to the 50m pool development to increase participation in exercise and encourage communities, through support and learning to choose a healthy lifestyle. The Wellness Centre will be part of a network of six other located across the City that will deliver integrated health services in partnership with the Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust.

The project has been funded by Sunderland City Council, Sport England, European Regional Development Fund, One North East, TyneWear Partnership, Sunderland arc and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

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last updated 25/03/08