The Ministry of Housing (Mived) has officially received the international certification for the newly renovated Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center’s Aquatic Center. Rebuilt by Spanish global leader Fluidra, the complex’s three pools are now now certified for international record-breaking.
What’s new? Full climate control and advanced water heating/cooling, a specialized “dryland” gym for elite divers, and state-of-the-art modular steel construction for 100% Olympic precision.
The renovation of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center’s aquatic complex marks a significant milestone for the Dominican Republic as it prepares to host the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in July 2026.
On 17 March 2026, the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (Mived) officially received the international certification confirming that the facility now meets the rigorous technical standards required for world-class competitions.
The project, executed in collaboration with the Spanish multinational Fluidra, transformed the site into one of the most advanced aquatic centers in the Caribbean and Central American region.
World-class infrastructure and innovations
The complexes three main pools (competition, training, and diving) were rebuilt to meet World Aquatics (formerly FINA) regulations.
Key innovations introduced during the renovation include:
• Advanced climate control: A state-of-the-art air conditioning and water heating/cooling system ensures precise temperature regulation, a critical requirement for hosting international events regardless of ambient weather.
• Specialized diving facilities: The installation of a new diving platform and a “dryland gymnasium.” The latter is a specialized facility rare in the region, allowing divers to practice maneuvers and refine techniques in a controlled environment using trampolines and harnesses before entering the water.
• International certification: The certification was formally handed over to Mived, the government entity responsible for the civil works, following a final inspection that verified pool dimensions, water quality systems, and safety protocols.
Fluidra’s role in the transformation
Fluidra, a global leader in the pool and wellness industry based in Spain, served as the specialized technical partner for the project. The company’s involvement focused on the “heart” of the aquatic systems:
• Modular technology: Fluidra typically utilizes its proprietary Skypool technology, a system of prefabricated hot-dipped galvanized steel panels, which allows for extreme precision in pool dimensions (down to the millimeter) required for world records to be officially recognized. The World Aquatics tolerance is +0.03m for 50m pools.
• Sustainable filtration: The Spanish firm implemented high-efficiency filtration and disinfection systems designed to reduce chemical usage and energy consumption while maintaining crystal-clear water quality for high-definition sports broadcasting.
Fluidra has a long history of equipping venues for major events, including the Pan American Games (Lima 2019, Santiago 2023) and the Asian Games, providing the “turnkey” technical solutions that allow local governments to meet international sporting federation mandates.
High-level endorsement
The delivery ceremony featured a prominent assembly of regional and national sports leadership, reflecting the importance of the facility to the “Centennial Games” (marking 100 years of the regional competition). The first regional games took place in Mexico in 1926.
Receiving the certification were:
• José P. Monegro, president of the Organizing Committee for Santo Domingo 2026.
• Felipe Vicini, vice president of the Organizing Committee.
• Luis Mejía Oviedo, president of Centro Caribe Sports.
• Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD).
• Radhamés Tavárez, president of the Dominican Swimming Federation (Fedona).
The completion of this venue ahead of schedule places the Dominican Republic in a “green light” status for its infrastructure commitments, ensuring the nation is ready to welcome over 6,000 athletes from 37 nations starting 24 July 2026.
The renovation of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center aquatic complex, overseen by Fluidra, elevates the facility to World Aquatics (formerly FINA) Category A standards. This technical upgrade ensures that any world records set at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games will be officially recognized.
Feature Technical Detail
Pool Systems: Integration of Skypool technology, using modular galvanized steel panels for millimeter-precision alignment.
Filtration: High-speed glass media filtration and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to reduce chlorine byproducts.
Competition Pool: 50-meter Olympic size with 10 lanes, equipped with updated starting blocks and touch-pad timing sensors.
Diving Well: Reconstructed to a depth of 5 meters, featuring new 1m and 3m springboards and a reinforced 10m platform.
Dryland Gym: A specialized training zone with trampolines and “dry” diving pits to allow for high-repetition aerial training.
Read more in Spanish:
Centro Caribe Sports
Fluidra
19 March 2026