Singapore’s World Aquatics Championships Arena — the venue where France’s Leon Marchand set a men’s 200m individual medley World Record in July and a host of memories were made — will continue to make waves well beyond this year’s World Aquatics Championships.
The 22nd edition of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore were a smashing success, one that saw more than 2,400 athletes representing 203 countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team competed across six sports and 77 medal events over 24 days. Singapore 2025 also marked the first time the Championships were held in Southeast Asia.
Now, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, David Neo, announced that the temporary World Aquatics Championships Arena will remain in place and open to both national athletes and the public until 2030, with Neo stating, “The World Aquatics Championships Arena received positive feedback from international and local spectators, athletes and officials.
“Following the completion of a feasibility study, we are pleased to announce that the use of the WCH Arena will be extended until 2030. The WCH Arena will complement existing ActiveSG swimming facilities, and be open for public use and national team training.”
The 4,800-capacity facility hosted the swimming and artistic swimming events during the World Aquatics Championships - Singapore 2025, which ran from 11 July to 3 August. Before that, the venue successfully hosted the South-East Asia Age Group Aquatics Championships from 19–29 June.
The arena is equipped with Olympic-standard competition and training pools, complete with the same red OSB11 starting blocks that will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The pools measure 50 metres by 26 metres with a depth of three metres — wider and deeper than the Paris 2024 temporary pool at La Défense Arena, also built by leading pool manufacturer Myrtha Pools.
During the World Aquatics Championships, the pool contributed to outstanding performances across the programme, including three World Records, 15 Championship Records and 28 Continental Records over the eight days of racing in the World Aquatics Championships Arena. Marchand’s 1:52.69 World Record in the 200m individual medley semifinals was among the standout moments of the Championships.
Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee also delivered a strong performance on home soil. The 22-year-old distance swimmer was the nation’s sole finalist, finishing seventh in the women’s 1500m freestyle and setting national records in both the 1500m (16:01.29) and her 800m split (8:29.93).
On Tuesday, Neo also noted that the arena could host future major competitions, such as the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games, when Singapore stages these regional events in 2029. The nearby 3,000-seat OCBC Aquatic Centre, home to water polo and diving during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, will continue to serve as another world-class venue for aquatic sport.
The World Aquatics Championships Arena is expected to open to the public by the end of October, with Singapore government leaders providing more details in the coming weeks.