diving in the first pool in the heart of the old city of Jerusalem

It is a swimming pool 16 meters long by 8 meters wide. The background is lagoon blue, the lights are subdued and the materials are noble: blond stone from Jerusalem, wood, earthenware… This extraordinary equipment was inaugurated at the beginning of summer, while waiting for the first swimmers in August, at the foot of the walls of the old city of Jerusalem, in the sports complex of the Franciscan Catholic school Terra Sancta. “Each square meter contained countless objects that range from Jesus Christ and the Romans until today… All periods”, describes the director of the school, Father Ibrahim Faltas.

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Seven years were needed to achieve such a technical, sporting and cultural gem. “During the inauguration, there were plenty of foreigners from America, Italy, Egypt, France, all over the world. And they were unanimous in saying that there are no other swimming pools in the world established in the heart of such cultural and archaeological richness. Honestly, implementing such a project in Jerusalem, in the holy city, was impossible… It’s a miracle!”, explains the priest.

Roman, Christian, Abbasid and Mameluke objects are exhibited in the hall. From the sauna, you can even see the remains of a Byzantine church. This swimming pool looks like a museum, but it is indeed a sports and social project. “In this city, the communities face the real scourges of drugs and alcohol, says Father Ibrahim Faltas. And so to put an end to it and get these young people out of addictions, there is nothing better than sport. Statistics say that in the old town, one in three young people use drugs or alcohol.

“This pool is for all the children of Jerusalem, Christians, Jews, Muslims. They are all welcome.”

Father Ibrahim Faltas, director of the school

at franceinfo

The excavations began in 2016 and the construction of the swimming pool in 2021. France played an essential role, says Martin Parent, director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Jerusalem: “What immediately appealed to us about this project was access to quality education. The total budget is around 2.5 million euros, the AFD is providing 1.5 million euros, so about two-thirds of the project. This project, of course, is unique”.

Jerusalem in general, and its occupied Palestinian eastern part in particular, are under-equipped with swimming pools. Too few children learn to swim and when they go to the sea or the lake, there are drownings. The opening to the public is scheduled for August 1st. Father Ibrahim Faltas hopes it will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day.