The Future “Cité de la Natation”: a landmark project for sport, health and inclusion in Toulouse

Founded 118 years ago, the Dauphins du TOEC hold a unique position within French sport. Ranked as France’s number-one swimming club for the 17th consecutive year, the club now brings together more than 2,000 members and has been represented at the Olympic Games during each of the last ten editions.

Over the decades, the club has helped develop some of France’s most talented swimmers, including Léon Marchand and Ugo Didier, demonstrating its ability to support athletes all the way to the highest level of competition.

Despite its success, the club is now facing several limitations. Its existing facilities can no longer fully accommodate the growing number of members or the diversity of activities developed by the association.

Limited space, aging infrastructure, and the lack of facilities capable of simultaneously hosting elite training, recreational activities, and health-focused programs have made a new phase of development necessary.

This vision gave rise to the City of Swimming, an ambitious project that will be located within the former Hall 7 of the Toulouse Exhibition Center, close to the Castex swimming pool. Its most iconic feature will be an Olympic-sized swimming pool built on a rooftop terrace more than 21 meters above ground, creating a facility unlike any other in France.

Designed by architect Jean-Paul Viguier, the future City of Swimming has been conceived as a vibrant space open to the city.

Sport

At the heart of the project, the aquatic and sports facilities will welcome both elite athletes and the general public. The complex will include a 50-meter Olympic swimming pool, leisure pools, and several dedicated training areas.

Club life

The facility will also feature welcoming social spaces, including a cafeteria, a shop, and event areas designed to strengthen connections between members, families, and partners.

Performance and well-being

A performance support center will complement the sports facilities with areas dedicated to physical preparation, recovery, wellness, and athlete monitoring. Open to a wide range of users, this space will combine sport, health, and prevention.

Education and training

The City of Swimming will also include classrooms and training facilities dedicated to developing skills in water-related professions, such as lifeguarding, sports coaching, and aquatic instruction.

Beyond its sporting ambition, the City of Swimming also has a significant social dimension.

Located at the crossroads of eight priority urban districts, the facility is intended to become a place for learning, integration, and empowerment. The project includes initiatives aimed at promoting swimming education among young people, supporting professional integration, and hosting local organizations involved in social development.

The objective is to create an open and accessible facility where sport, education, health, and community life come together.

The project has now reached a major milestone with the approval of its building permit.

The final stages of fundraising are currently underway, notably thanks to the support of Foundation Unlimited, which has committed €1.5 million to the initiative in recognition of its sporting, educational, and social impact.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the facility expected to open to the public in 2029.

Through its support of the City of Swimming, Foundation Unlimited reaffirms its commitment to initiatives that create lasting opportunities and contribute to community development through sport, education, and inclusion.