LENGTH FR 2.1.1 The length of the pool shall be 50 metres. If the touch panels of the automatic official equipment are used in the start section or in the return section, the pool must have a length of 50 metres to ensure the required distance between the two panels. FR 2.1.2 The width of the pool shall be 25 metres. If touch panels with automatic official equipment are used in the start section or in the return section, the width of the pool should be 25 metres to ensure the required distance between the two panels. TOLERANCE OF DIMENSIONS FR 2.2.1 For a length of 50 metres plus 0.03 metres in each lane and minus 0.0 metres on either side of the wall at any point from 0.3 metres to 0.8 metres below the water surface shall apply. These dimensions must be approved by a supervisor or official and authorised personnel. When touch panels are installed (by a staff member approved or appointed by the member of the country where the pool is located), these tolerances shall not exceed the specified values. FR 2.2.2 For a width of 25 metres, the dimensions of plus 0.03 metres in each lane and minus 0.0.0 metres on either side of the wall at any point from 0.3 metres to 0.8 metres below the water surface shall apply. These dimensions must be approved by a supervisor or official and authorised personnel. (By personnel approved or appointed by the member of the country in which the pool is located). When installing the touch panels, these tolerances must not exceed the specified values. DEPTH The dimensions required for pools with starting blocks are as follows: A depth of at least 1.35 metres extends from one metre to at least six metres from the end wall. For other pool types, a measurement of at least 1.0 metre is required. WALLS FR 2.4.1 The end walls shall be parallel to each other and made of solid material at right angles to the direction of swimming. In addition, it should have non-slip surfaces extending to a depth of 0.8 metres from the surface of the water and should allow the athlete to touch and back without danger. FR 2.4.2 It is permitted to have resting places along the pool, not less than 1.2 metres from the water surface. And it may be 0.1 to 0.15 metres wide. FR 2.4.3 Gutters may be provided on all four walls of the pool. If end wall gutters are provided, they should be located 0.3 metres above the water surface to allow for additional touch panels. These gutters should be suitably covered with a grille or mesh. FR 2.5 Lanes shall be at least 2.5 m wide with a width of 0.2 m between the first lane and the rope of the last lane and the wall. LANE ROPES FR 2.6.1 Lane ropes shall run along the direction of swimming and be well secured at each end with anchors inside the end walls. Each lane rope should have a diameter of at least 0.15 metres and pontoons extending from one end of the pool to the other. There should be no more than one rope between each lane. It is also very important that the lane ropes are tight. FR 2.6.2 Each end wall of the pool should be of a colour that can clearly distinguish 15-metre lines from other pontoons. FR 2.6.3 The pontoons of 50-metre pools shall be of a colour that can be clearly distinguished from other 25-metre pontoons. FR 2.6.4 Soft lane number markings may be located on the lane lines at the start and return portions of the pool. STARTER PLATFORMS Starter platforms should be solid and should not be able to bend. The height of the platform above the water should be between 0.5 and 0.75 metres. The surface of the platform should be at least 0.5 x 0.5 m and covered with a non-slip material. The maximum degree of inclination should not exceed 10%. The platform should not give the swimmer the feeling of bouncing when the swimmer moves with the take-off. If the launch platform exceeds 0.04 metres, there shall be springs of 0.01 metres on each side and 0.4 metres in front, intersecting the surface of the platform by 0.03 metres. Handholds for the take-off movement can be mounted on take-off platforms. Those for the backward movement should be placed vertically and horizontally 0.3 to 0.6 metres above the water surface. These sections should be parallel to the bulkhead and extend above the bulkhead. The water depth from 1.0 to 6.0 metres from the bulkhead should be at least 1.35 metres from where the launch platforms are located. Electronic reading boards may be placed under the blocks. Flashing is not permitted on the boards. When the return process begins, the moulds should not move during this time. NUMBERING Each starting block should be clearly numbered from all four sides. Lane 1 should be on the right-hand side while facing in the direction of the swim from the start. However, as the 50 metre races may start from the opposite direction, this rule is invalid for such meets. Touch panels can also be numbered from the top. RETURN SIGN Marked ropes extending from one end of the pool to the other should be placed a minimum of 1.8 and a maximum of 2.5 metres above the surface of the water and 5 metres from each end wall within fixed standards. Clear signs should be placed on both sides of the pool and wherever possible there should be 15.0 metres between each end wall and each lane rope. WATER TEMPERATURE The water temperature should be 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. During competition, the pool water temperature should be maintained at a certain level and no change should be allowed. In accordance with the health regulations prescribed in many countries, cleaning of the pool can continue without creating waves or turbulence. LIGHTING Light intensity should not be less than 600 lux on launch platforms and turns. LANE MARKINGS Lane markings should be a dark contrasting colour and placed in the centre of each lane at the bottom of the pool. Width: Minimum 0.2 metres Maximum 0.3 metres Length: 46.0 metres for 50 metre pools, 21.0 metres for 25 metre pools. Each lane line must end 2.0 metres from the end wall and clearly cross the lane line at a length of 1.0 metre and a width of 1.0 metre. The finish lines should be located on the end walls or touch panels and have the same width as the lane lines in the middle of each lane. These lengths can be crossed to the surface of the pool without overflowing from the edge. The 0.5 metre cross line should be 0.3 metres below the water surface and is measured to the centre of the cross line. PARTITIONS If the partitions have the feature of a bulkhead, they should be solid and cover the entire width of the swimming direction. They should have a vertical and slippery surface and be 0.3 metres above the water surface and not less than 0.8 metres below the water surface. Structures should be used that will not be damaged by the swimmer's fingers, digits and toes and will not allow hazardous events to occur below or above the waterline. Compartments should allow individuals to move freely throughout the competition without creating waves or water currents. SWIMMING POOLS FOR THE OLYMPICS AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Length: The length between the touch panels of the automatic official equipment must be 50.0 metres, except for World Championships. The touch panels of the automatic official equipment on the start and the length between the start walls and the touch panels at the corners should be 25.0 metres. Dimensional tolerances in FR 2.2.1 FR 3.2 Width: 25.0 metres for the Olympic World Championships. FR 3.3 Depth: at least 2.0 metres FR 3.4 Walls: as in FR 2.4.1 FR 3.5 Grooves: as in FR 2.4.3 FR 3.6 Lane numbers: 8 FR 3.7 The lanes are 2.5 meters wide, with two gaps of 2.5 meters between lanes one and eight. There should be a rope separating these gaps from lanes one and eight. (For the Olympic Games or World Championships). FR 3.8 Lane ropes: as in FR 2.6 FR 3.9 Start platforms: as in FR 2.7. A false start control must be found. FR 3.10 Numbering: as in FR 2.8 FR 3.11 Return plates: as in FR 2.9. FR 3.12 False start rope: as in FR 2.10 FR 3.13 Water temperature: as in FR 2.11 FR 3.14 Lighting: light intensity of the entire pool should not be less than 1500 lux. FR 3.15 Lane markings: as in FR 2.13. The center of each lane must be 2.5 meters away. FR 3.16 If the pool and the diving compartment are in the same area, the distance between the two pools should be at least 5.0 meters. STARTING DEVICES FR 4.3.1 The starter shall have a microphone to give verbal commands. FR 4.3.2 If a gun is used, a transducer must be used. FR 4.3.3 Microphone and transducer must be connected to speakers at each starting block. The commands of the start referee and the start signal must be heard simultaneously. (equally from each swimmer) FR 4.4.4 Signs: Signs on the panels shall match the existing markings of the pool. The perimeter and edges of the panels should be marked with a black border of 0.025 meters. FR 4.4.5 Safety: panels shall be safe to avoid electric shock and shall not contain sharp edges. FR 4.5 For semi-automatic equipment, the target will be determined by the officer pressing the button at the last touch of the float. FR 4.6 The following are the items required for automatic equipment. FR 4.6.1 Breakdown of all information collected during the race. FR 4.6.2 Target group display FR 4.6.3 The start arc of the race is 1/100 of a second. If competitors have cameras on their heads, they are part of the automatic system. FR 4.7.2 There should be a ventilation and air conditioning system. The dimensions of this control center are 6.0 x 3.0 meters and should be between 3.0 meters and 5.0 meters from the bulkhead. Care should be taken to ensure that the view of the bulkhead is not obstructed during the race. In other cases, the safety of the control center should be ensured. FR 4.7.3 Timing system for video tapes FR 4.8 Semi-automatic equipment may be used to support automatic official equipment in FINA. This equipment is used in large races where finish judges are not required, and there are three buttons for each lane, each operated by a different official. The person controlling the turns can make one of the buttons work. AUTOMATIC OFFICIAL EQUIPMENT FR 4.1 Automatic and semi-automatic official equipment helps determine relative position in the race by measuring the speed of each face. Speed calculations are 1/100 of a second. This equipment should not affect the swimmer's starting movements, turns, or system. FR 4.2 Required features in equipment: FR 4.2.1 Must be activated by the start referee. FR 4.2.2 If possible, there should be no cables at the pool. FR 4.2.3 Must be able to display information for each lane. FR 4.2.4 Should digitally display the swimmer's speed.