The people of Lille have just snagged a little piece of the Olympic Games in Paris! Since this Wednesday, July 15, the brand-new Camille Muffat Pool is welcoming the public on Boulevard de Strasbourg, after thirteen months of construction and an investment of 14 million euros. And behind its rather futuristic appearance hides a lovely story of a second life: its main pool was used during the Paris 2024 Olympics before making its way a few hundred kilometers to settle (almost) permanently in Lille.
A true 50-meter Olympic pool
Here, you won't be doing just three strokes of breaststroke before hitting the wall. The Camille Muffat Pool features a 50-meter by 25-meter pool, comprised of ten lanes and boasting a constant depth of two meters. This facility has been designed to welcome everyone from casual swimmers to school groups, clubs, organizations, and high-level athletes. You'll also find beaches, bleachers, changing rooms, and several technical spaces completing the whole setup. The new...
The pool mainly compensates for the closure of Marx Dormoy, which permanently closed its doors on June 28 after more than fifty years of service.See this post on Instagram
A pool that experienced the Paris Olympic Games
The most astonishing detail lies beneath the surface. The pool set up in Lille is none other than the former warm-up pool of the Olympic Aquatic Center in Saint-Denis, used during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. International swimmers prepared here for the diving and water polo events.
ou de artistic swimming. Two years later, it's now time for the people of Lille to take the plunge: hopefully with a little less pressure on their shoulders. Instead of being stored away or destroyed after the Games, the structure has been taken apart, restored, and then reassembled in Lille. A tangible Olympic legacy that also prevents such high-quality equipment from gathering dust in a warehouse.A Removable Pool Designed to Minimize Its Impact
The Camille Muffat pool is presented as a reusable and removable structure. Its framework is made from aluminum, its roof is supported by a stretched textile membrane, and its insulation has been enhanced to reduce energy costs. The building is also connected to the urban heating network. Devices capture heat from the air and the renewed water of the pool, while natural ventilation helps regulate the indoor temperature. Surrounding the site, over 15,000 m² of green space have been preserved.
cute; preserved and new trees need to be planted. Bike shelters, repair stations, and designated spots for cargo bikes have also been set up. In other words, no one will be able to say that coming to swim is incompatible with leaving their car in the garage.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Entry costs only 1 € until the end of August
The best news is here just when it's time to grab your wallet. Until August 31, 2026, entry to the municipal pools of Lille, Lomme, and Hellemmes is being offered at a special rate of 1 € for those over six. Access is free for the little ones. To enjoy this offer, simply present proof of residency from the past year in Lille, Lomme, or Hellemmes, or a Pass Sport, Pass Senior, or Pass Lille & moi card. Swimming in an old Olympic pool doesn’t get much more accessible than this!
A temporary pool... but definitely not small
The Camille Muffat pool is set to ensure Lille maintains a genuine Olympic swimming facility after the closure of Marx Dormoy, while we wait for the construction of a new permanent facility. The site that will host this future pool, however, is still being sorted out.
is not yet finished. The structure of the Arras Gate should therefore support Lille swimmers for several years to come. Temporary on paper, maybe. But with its ten lanes, its 50 meters, and its Olympic history, it certainly isn’t just a hasty little pool.Address: 586 Bd de Strasbourg, 59000 Lille