Montreal Olympic Park sports complex will be closed four to six months following fire

The Olympic Park in Montreal will remain closed for nearly four to six months due to major damage caused by a fire in March.

The blaze broke out on March 21 outside the facilities, on the southeast side of the Stadium.

There were no reported injuries but there was “significant damage due to the abundant infiltration of smoke and water caused by the firefighters in order to extinguish the fire,” said the Olympic Park in a press release on Wednesday.

The damage has forced the closure of the 14 floors of the Olympic Park tower and more than 275 people have been working on cleaning up the site and carrying out air quality tests.

Additionally, Swimming Canada has announced on social media that they are working on a contingency plan to host the Paris 2024 Olympic trials after hearing about the extended sports centre closure.

“Our top priority is to maintain (Montreal-area trials) on the original dates of May 13-19. We will provide more information as soon as we are able to do so.”

According to Swimming Canada, racing must be held in a 50 metre pool with capacity for participants and spectators, in a venue capable of accommodating broadcasting for the event.

The Montreal police (SPVM) arson squad is currently investigating the case.

SPVM spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant said on Wednesday that the fire was man-made, but that investigators are still trying to determine whether it was accidental or intentional.

The tower has several office workers for Desjardins, SIGMA-RH, and the Institut national du sport du Québec, and many more.

Several athletes, who are preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer, will have to find a new place to train in the meantime.

A new schedule will eventually be presented to the occupants of the tower.