Overview
- The Magdeburg city council voted on Thursday to convert the former interim court at Jerichower Platz into an eight‑lane, 50‑metre temporary pool to operate from November 2026 until June 2028.
- The city estimates the conversion will cost about €3.76 million and says the state of Saxony‑Anhalt has pledged roughly €700,000 in support.
- Victims of the Magdeburg Christmas market attack have launched a petition and sent open letters calling the plan "unfassbar" and "respektlos," while the state victims' commissioner has said reuse could also be seen as conciliatory.
- City officials plan to install the rented pool in September and October and will now move to sign rental and funding contracts after the council approval.
- The decision preserves training for high‑profile athletes from the Bundesstützpunkt Schwimmen, such as Florian Wellbrock, Lukas Märtens and Isabel Gose, but it has intensified debate over reusing a building closely linked to the recent trial of the attacker.