The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) , formerly Sydney International Aquatic Centre (SIAC), is a
swimming venue located in the
Sydney Olympic Park in
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia. Built in 1994, the SOPAC was a major venue for the
2000 Summer Olympics as it hosted the
swimming,
diving,
synchronized swimming, the medal events for
water polo, and the swimming portion of the
modern pentathlon competitions.[1] The SOPAC has since been a host venue for numerous schools and swimming associations around New South Wales. Currently, it has most notably been the venue for the annual
CAS Swimming Championships.[2] It is also scheduled to be the site of the 2022
Duel in the Pool.[3][4] The SOPAC also includes a swim shop at the entry of the arena,[5] a play area, a health club and operates swimming classes for all ages.[6][7]
The arena currently holds 10,000 people. Capacity was boosted to 17,000 during the 2000 Summer Olympics.
2013 fire
In October 2013, a large grass fire ripped through the centre's carpark, destroying more than 40 cars, one motorcycle and forcing 1,500 people to evacuate.[8]