Revamped Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games pool to open

Glasgow's swimming venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is to open to the public on Friday after a 19-month refurbishment costing £13.8m.

Tollcross International Swimming Centre has a revamped 10-lane 50m competition pool and a completely new six-lane 50m warm-up pool.

An extra 1,000 permanent seats have been added to the 1,000 in place before the revamp started in October 2011.

A further 3,000 temporary seats will be put in place during the games.

Tollcross will host the 2014 swimming competition and the 2015 IPC World Swimming Championships.

Community facility

The venue is also an integral part of Glasgow's bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The first event to be held at Tollcross will be the Scottish Open Swimming Championships in June this year.

The venue will also operate as a community sports facility and features an enlarged fitness suite.

Depute leader of Glasgow City Council Archie Graham said: "The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave a lasting legacy of new and improved sports venues for the people of Glasgow, and Tollcross International Swimming Centre is right at the very heart of this programme.

"As well as the refurbished competition pool area and new warm-up pool, the facilities at Tollcross will include one of the biggest and best-equipped Glasgow Club gyms in the city.

"These facilities will be used on a daily basis by the local community, giving people of all ages and abilities the chance to swim and train in a world-class venue. The wait is over, Tollcross is ready."