The Pan Am Games ‘secretly’ begin on Tuesday

Here you are thinking the Pan Am Games start on July 10th when really they begin this Tuesday.

Four sports fire up even before the cauldron is lit, one involving a court and the others in three different pools. This actually happens all the time, even at the Olympics. Let’s talk about those pools…

Water Polo – begins Tuesday, July 7th

Water polo is played in a pool 30m x 20m for men, and 25m x 20m for women, bet you didn’t know that. This means a lot of swimming, and egg beater, and grabbing, and wrestling (actually wrestling). Both Canadian teams play multiple games early, and they happen at the Markham Pan Am Centre. Here’s more about the Canadian men and women.

TO2015 Water polo schedule 

Nicolas Constantin-Bicari | Photo: Michael Hall

Nicolas Constantin-Bicari | Photo: Michael Hall

Synchronized Swimming – begins Thursday, July 9th

The size of pool for synchro depends on the stage of competition, we know that because we read the rules, and rules are fun. There is a minimum depth: three metres. Many of the aquatic sports, including synchro, get started early because some athletes have FINA World Aquatic Championships July 24-August 9. The Pan Am team list!

TO2015 Synchronized swimming schedule

Karine Thomas (left) and Jacqueline Simoneau seen at the 2015 Synchronized Swimming World Cup. | Photo: Synchro Canada

Karine Thomas (left) and Jacqueline Simoneau seen at the 2015 Synchronized Swimming World Cup. | Photo: Synchro Canada

Diving – begins Friday, July 10th

Pan Am divers spring into action with prelims for men’s 3m and women’s 10m on the 10th. The athletes plunge into a diving tank which under the 10m platform has to be 5m deep, for obvious reasons. There’s also a required light intensity one-metre off the surface of the water, and reduced surface tension to avoid any pike accidents. Or tuck. Or somersault. And now this paragraph is over because we’re out of diving words.

TO2015 Diving schedule

Roseline Filion (foreground) and Meaghan Benfeito diving at London 2012.

Roseline Filion (foreground) and Meaghan Benfeito diving at London 2012.

Tennis – begins Friday, July 10th

For those who appreciate dry land, Le Tennis (that’s French) is served up the same day as the Opening Ceremony. Just men’s singles, and it’s all at the Canadian Tennis Centre.

TO2015 Tennis schedule

Peter Polansky is one of three Canadian men entered at TO2015.

Peter Polansky is one of three Canadian men entered at TO2015.