Markham threw one of the biggest pool parties in its history Sunday, with an estimated 2,000 people coming out to mark the official opening of the Atos Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre, home of badminton, table tennis and water polo competitions at next summer’s games. The $78.5M multi-purpose centre—which recently hosted its first international badminton competition—has a 10-lane, 50-metre Olympic-sized swimming pool and triple gymnasium with 12.5-metre-high ceilings, according to the organizing committee. (Above: swimmers await the chance to take an inaugural plunge into the pool.)

The facility, designed by B+H Architects, is located in Markham’s developing downtown core, adjacent to Unionville GO Station. The Government of Canada and City of Markham jointly funded the project. A “beyond excited” Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti noted that the opening of the centre shows the world his city is ready not just in the “bricks-and-mortar sense” for the games, which will see athletes from 41 nations take part, “we’re also ready to celebrate and showcase what Markham has to offer next summer.” The facility will be for  community use following the games.