By Katie Knapp
Omaha, NE – Construction is underway on the first of two swimming pools that'll be used for the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha. The Trials are June 29th through July Sixth.
Monday morning, crews began welding the foundation and the vinyl lining for the warm-up pool. It'll take approximately seven days to complete the first pool. Then, construction will begin on the second the ten-lane competition pool. It'll be built inside the Qwest Center Omaha arena and take up the first nine rows of seats.
Harold Cliff, COO of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, says the total cost of building both pools is $2 million. Each pool holds one million gallons of water. Three gas heaters are on-site at the Qwest Center to keep the water temperature regulated. The warm-up pool must be kept at 81 degrees; the competition pool must be at 80 degrees.
Halls A, B, and C inside the Convention Center are serving as the construction site. Two miles of PVC pipe, the three gas heaters, couplings, fitting, and thousands of nuts and bolts are stored in those halls.
Both pools must be ready for the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational June Fifth.