After much waiting, tonight swimming fans finally got what we have been waiting for since, well, the 2004 Athens Games.

The Water Cube, as it is affectionately known, is an interesting specimen.  It is a great venue, it accommodates a lot of people, and after this evening’s (almost said “this morning’s”) preliminaries, there is no denying that it is likely a fast pool.

But there is something missing.

Entering the pool area left me wanting an iPhone-like WOW factor, and it just didn’t do it.

The Water Cube is not Sydney, nor is it Athens.

The people I spoke with had the same initial reactions.

The Water Cube was built specifically for the purpose of hosting an Olympics, but so were great venues of the past.  I don’t care if it looks cool from the outside.  Give me a fast pool, a good view, and lots of seats and the building could be made out of mud and straw for all I care.

Many people are singing their praises of the venue.

Not I.

Quite possibly that song will come.

Maybe as the week goes on, the great performances that I will bear witness to will help swing my vote.

Right now though – I just can’t give it.

You can quote that

“It’s like we’re playing a big card game and all those guys are showing their hands. We got a lot of peacocks showing their feathers.” – Brendan Hansen

No smog

The haze that is seemingly present near the roof of the “Cube” is merely, in my estimation, an illusion created from a combination of the ambient lighting and the sunlight coming through the Cube’s permeable “membrane.”

Want a ticket

The Cube holds 11,000 plus spectators, but it could hold more.  The media side of the venue has a lot of wasted space, and honestly a pretty poor view of the pool.