Ponds Forge

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Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a multipurpose sports centre and leisure complex in Sheffield, England. The facility has a 2,600 seating capacity Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pit, a leisure pool, a 10-court indoor sports hall, in addition to multiple gyms and fitness studios. The facility is ran by Everyone Active.[1]

History

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Ponds Forge was opened in 1991 ahead of the 1991 Summer Universiade, which the facility was a host venue.

In the 1994 UK Sports Design Awards, Ponds Forge won British Steel award for the best use of steel in construction, and was highly commented in the overall category.[2]

In the 2000s Ponds Forge was a venue for Channel 4's, The Games, in which celebrities competed against each other in a wide range of events.[3][4]

Facilities

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Olympic-sized swimming pool

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The swimming pool at Ponds Forge

The swimming pool hosted the 1993 Men's European Water Polo Championship (part of the 1993 European Aquatics Championships).[5] It has also hosted the 2006 Underwater Hockey World Championships,[6] in addition to the junior world championships in 2019.[7] The pool is also used for the national underwater hockey competitions ran by the British Octopush Association.

Diving pool

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Ponds Forge has Europe's deepest diving pool at 5.85 metres.[8] This pool hosted the FINA World Diving Series Championships in April 2011[9] and was home to USA Diving Squad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[10] It is also home to the City of Sheffield Water Polo Club, a first division water polo team.

Surf City leisure pool

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Surf City leisure pool includeds a 25 metre lane pool, a lazy river that goes around the outside of the pool, slides, a smaller and shallower children's with, a sensory wall, fountains, and a mini slide,[11] and a leisure pod for disabled swimmers equipped with a disabled hoist.[12]

Gym

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The 140-piece gym[1] was refurbished in 2008.[13]

Sports hall

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The 10-court sports hall can facilitate badminton, table tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball, and indoor football.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ponds Forge International Sports Centre". Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Architecture: The winner is ... the stadium – The new UK Sports Design Awards have caused controversy, but can only be beneficial, says Simon Inglis". The Independent. 2 August 1994. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Games' TV show going belly-up". The Star. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  4. ^ "On your marks for The Games". The Star. 23 March 2005. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Men Water Polo European Championship 1993 Sheffield (GBR) – 31.07–08.08 Winner Italy". www.todor66.com. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. ^ "New sport is not out of its depth". BBC Sport. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Sheffield to play host to Underwater Hockey World Championship". The Star. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  8. ^ "City of Sheffield Snow Frills – 1st & 2nd December – Ponds Forge". Portland S. C. Nottingham. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield take gold in the 10 metre synchro at FINA World Series event in Sheffield". The Telegraph. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Lane closed – the US Olympic diving team is over here already". The Independent. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Surf City Leisure Pool". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Surf City leisure pool re-opens at Ponds Forge". RMC Media. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Gym re-development completed | TheBusinessDesk.com". Yorkshire. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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53°22′55″N 1°27′44″W / 53.381997°N 1.462233°W / 53.381997; -1.462233