The organizers of the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary have posted a video on their Facebook page of the construction progress of the new facility that will serve as the jewel of the bi-annual competition next year.
Budapest took over the hosting duties for the 2017 World Championships last year when Mexico backed out of their won bid over financial concerns. Budapest had been chosen to host the 2021 World Championships originally, but agreed to accelerate the construction of the brand-new hallmark aquatic center and open it in time for the 2017 championships. The facility was set to be ready by 2017 anyway, making the shift in timeline plausible.
This new facility will host the swimming, synchronized swimming, and diving competitions at the World Aquatics Championships, and is known as the ‘Palace of Pools.’
It is one of three pools that will be used for the championships: the existing Alfred Hajos Complex will be the main site of the water polo tournaments, while the Komjadi Complex will be used for a training facility. All three pools fall within a 3km (1.8 mile) radius, making a very compact core of competition. The open water and high diving events will be 120km (75 miles) outside of the city at Lake Balaton.
The Palace of Pools will consist of an indoor 50 meter competition pool, an indoor warm up pool, an outdoor 50 meter pool, leisure pools, an entertainment center, and the FINA Market Street.