Bernat Picornell pools
The Piscines Bernat Picornell (Bernat Picornell Pools) are one of four sports facilities within the Anella Olímpica (Olympic Ring) alongside the Estadi Olímpic (Olympic Stadium), the Palau Sant Jordi (an indoor sports arena) and the INEFC (National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia). Originally built in 1970 for the World Aquatics Championships, a complete refurbishment was required to bring the facility up to standard for the Barcelona’92 Olympic Games. The pool was enlarged to 25x50m and the capacity of the stands was increased to accommodate 10,000 spectators. It is considered to be a very fast competition pool because the depth varies between 2.2m and 3m. There are three pools in total within the complex. The main one is an outdoor pool. There is a smaller pool next to for diving competitions and a heated pool on the floor below, as well as other auxiliary spaces. The Piscines Bernat Picornell are now a municipal facility open to the public all year round.
At the Barcelona’92 Olympic Games, it was the venue for swimming and synchronised swimming events and the water polo final, where the Spanish team won silver and the Italian team won gold. In 2003, the 10th FINA World Championships were held there.
Selected resources
Los escenarios
COOB’92 (1992): “Los escenarios”, Memoria oficial de los Juegos de la XXV Olímpiada, Barcelona 1992. Vol.2. Los medios : objetivos, recursos y escenarios. Barcelona: COOB’92, pp. 127-337
Instal·lacions de competició = Instalaciones de competición = Installation compétition = Competition facilities
COOB’92 (1990): Instal·lacions de competició = Instalaciones de competición = Installation compétition = Competition facilities. Barcelona: COOB’92.
AOMSA: l’Anella Olímpica de Montjuïc
Anella Olímpica, S.A. (1990): AOMSA: l’Anella Olímpica de Montjuïc. Barcelona: Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Barcelona Olímpica : la ciudad renovada
Barcelona Olímpica : la ciudad renovada. Barcelona: Holsa; Àmbit, 1992.
Barcelona: la ciutat i el 92
Guevara, M. Teresa (1990): Barcelona: la ciutat i el 92. Barcelona: Olimpíada Cultural.
In the repository
In the Municipal Contemporary Archive, you can consult the administrative and management documentation generated on this topic by the Organising Committee Barcelona’92, SA (COOB’92), Holding Olímpic SA (HOLSA), Anella Olímpica de Montjuïc SA (AOMSA) (Olympic ring), Vila Olímpica SA (VOSA) (Olympic village) and the Institut Municipal de Promoció Urbanística SA (IMPUSA) (municipal Institute of urban development).
In the Barcelona Photographic Archive, you can consult the photographic and audio-visual documentation (more than 25000 photographs) generated by the by the Organising Committee Barcelona’92, SA (COOB’92), Holding Olímpic SA (HOLSA), Anella Olímpica de Montjuïc SA (AOMSA) (Olympic ring) and the Institut Municipal de Promoció Urbanística SA (IMPUSA) (municipal Institute of urban development).
If you need further information on the collection, read the collection guide.
In the library
In the libraries of the study centres of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation (FBO) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) you can find the selection of listed documents and other bibliographic materials on the subject.
If you are interested in knowing more about our Olympic collection, you can consult the Union Catalogue of Catalan Universities (UAB collection) or contact us by e-mail (FBO collection).
Sports in pictures
If you are interested in images of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Barcelona’92, the Image Service of the Olympic Foundation of Barcelona will help you identify the images that satisfy your needs.
The Foundation manages the official image archive of the Barcelona’92 Games. You can contact them by email to request more information about the services provided and the collection of images. In this page, we offer a selection of images on the event.
