Ponds Forge

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a multipurpose sports centre and leisure complex in Sheffield, England. The facility has a 2,600 seating capacity Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pit, a leisure pool, a 10-court indoor sports hall, in addition to multiple gyms and fitness studios. The facility is ran by Everyone Active.^[1]

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, Yorkshire

History

Ponds Forge was opened in 1991 ahead of the 1991 Summer Universiade, which the facility was a host venue.

In the 1994 UK Sports Design Awards, Ponds Forge won British Steel award for the best use of steel in construction, and was highly commented in the overall category.^[2]

In the 2000s Ponds Forge was a venue for Channel 4's, The Games, in which celebrities competed against each other in a wide range of events.^[3][4]

Facilities

Olympic-sized swimming pool

The swimming pool at Ponds Forge

The swimming pool hosted the 1993 Men's European Water Polo Championship (part of the 1993 European Aquatics Championships).^[5] It has also hosted the 2006 Underwater Hockey World Championships,^[6] in addition to the junior world championships in 2019.^[7] The pool is also used for the national underwater hockey competitions ran by the British Octopush Association.

Diving pool

Ponds Forge has Europe's deepest diving pool at 5.85 metres.^[8] This pool hosted the FINA World Diving Series Championships in April 2011^[9] and was home to USA Diving Squad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.^[10] It is also home to the City of Sheffield Water Polo Club, a first division water polo team.

Surf City leisure pool

Surf City leisure pool includeds a 25 metre lane pool, a lazy river that goes around the outside of the pool, slides, a smaller and shallower children's with, a sensory wall, fountains, and a mini slide,^[11] and a leisure pod for disabled swimmers equipped with a disabled hoist.^[12]

Gym

The 140-piece gym^[1] was refurbished in 2008.^[13]

Sports hall

The 10-court sports hall can facilitate badminton, table tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball, and indoor football.^[1]

See also

• List of long-course swimming pools in the United Kingdom