Ying Tung Natatorium pools renewed with PVC membrane lining

Blue PVC membrane was used to line the pools.

(BEIJING, September 10) -- Ying Tung Natatorium at the Beijing Olympic Sports Center was recently restored and now covers an area of 44,635 sq m, including a renovated area of 37,500 sq m, preserved area of 1,605 sq m, and extended area of 5,530 sq m.

The venue can seat 4,852 spectators and has a standard swimming pool, diving pool, warm-up pool, a pool for relaxing, and relevant auxiliary buildings.

From September 15-16, the 2007 Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final swimming discipline will be held here. In addition the Beijing 2008 Olympic Water Polo event and Modern Pentathlon swimming discipline will also be held here.

Ying Tung Natatorium was a major subject of focus for the Olympic competition venue renovation projects. The natatorium showed signs of aging due to its continuous use since being built nearly 20 years ago.

Cracks in the pools and leakage had become a severe problem that meant the facilities were far short of competition standards.

However, completely replacing the pools would have been costly and time consuming. The option of removing the pools and adding reinforcements would also have been costly and complicated.

After much debate, the relevant designers and management officials decided on an advanced PVC membrane lining system used internationally.

Relining the pools with the PVC membrane only required the removal of the top layer of the pools and saved time and resources. The pools are now water-proof, attractive and meet competition standards.