Radovljica’s Olympic swimming pool officially reopened last Friday. The renovation works included the construction of an entrance complex with a restaurant, an indoor therapy pool and new changing rooms and toilets – both for the pool and the campsite.

The pool was originally designed by the local architect Ivan Vurnik. It was built in 1932 and is considered one of his most notable projects. The most distinguishing feature, which at its time was considered a daring feat of engineering and architecture, was the high diving platform. The platform was demolished in 1966 but Radovljica’s Olympic-size swimming pool lives on today in the same location.

The first phase of the new pool was opened in style last week, when visitors were given free access to explore all areas, including the new heated therapy pool, which is a great asset as it will also be used for patient physiotherapy by the Radovljica Health Centre.

Visitors to the opening event were invited to watch a training session take place in the new indoor pool.

It was a double celebration last week, as this year Radovljica Swimming Club marks its 90th anniversary. During this time, the club has produced many Olympic-winning swimmers, as can be seen below. I, however, am not one of them!

The wind orchestra of the Radovljica music school and the Lesce wind orchestra helped to keep visitors entertained during the opening event.

The pool was officially reopened by Radovljica’s mayor, Ciril Globocnik, seen below in the pink shirt, who himself was a former swimmer before going on to become a swimming coach, a selector for Slovenia’s swimmers on the international scene, sports director of the Radovljica Swimming Club, and, since 2010, our mayor.

The mayor also blew the whistle to mark the inaugural lap of the outdoor pool (which isn’t actually new but it was nonetheless a fitting occassion), which featured swimmers of all ages, from the very young…

…to the oldest, who is even older than the Radovljica Swimming Club itself, and who, of course, got the biggest applause!

During a recent visit to Radovljica, the president of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, Franjo Bobinac, confirmed his support for the project to reconstruct the swimming pool. He announced that the committee will strive to ensure that reconstruction continues and that the municipality will be granted part of a 150 million euro package of funds that will be allocated for this purpose over the next five years.

In summer the open-air pool is very popular with children and those seeking a way to keep cool, while in winter the pool is covered, so swimming coaching and recreational swimming can continue throughout the year.

Camp Radovljica is situated right next to the pool, making it an ideal place to stay in summer, as guests of the camp have free use of the pool.

Click here to can find out more about the Radovljica swimming pool, as well as other pools in the surrounding area.

Summer has finally arrived, better late than never, and schools are out for summer this Friday, so what with the pool(s) and surrounding forests, plateaus and mountains, there’s no better place to keep cool in the heat than Radovljica!

© Adele in Slovenia