£7.5m leisure centre complete with London Olympics pool opens in Birmingham

Pool equipment from the London 2012 Olympics has found a new home following the opening of a £7.5m (US$9.8m, €8.4m) leisure centre in Birmingham.

In 2014, Birmingham City Council bought equipment from one of the Olympic training pools used during the London Games, bidding £200,000 (US$262,300, €223,330) for the tank, heating system and filters.

The equipment is now back in use as part of the new Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre, which was opened by former Olympian Colin Jackson.

The facility, which will be operated by Places for People Leisure, includes a six-lane 25m pool with viewing areas, a learner pool, an 80-station fitness suite, dance studios, sauna and steam facilities, cafe, and community room.

It is the latest of five pools either being built or rebuilt in the city.

The centre was designed and built by Roberts Limbrick Architects and Pellikaan Construction respectively and will be managed by Places for People on behalf of the council for the next 15 years.