Estoril Swimming Pool
新花園泳池
The Estoril Swimming Pool is a public pool with the longest history in Macao. It was opened in June 1952. This swimming pool cost a hundred and fifty thousand MOP, and two years to complete the whole contracture, which the size was the largest in South China. It has the area for more than a thousand people and the swimming pool is 50 meters long and 25 meters wide with complete infrastructural facilities, meeting the international standards, so in the past, international competitions were usually held here. Now, it is still used as a public pool for Macao people.
The swimming pool was initially equipped with a catering department, a dance hall, and an ice rink. They were later demolished and built into today's Estoril Hotel. The open-air stands were also covered with covers to protect the audience from the sun and rain. The swimming pool opens every summer for only a few months. With the development of society, the population has surged in recent years, and the number of swimmers in swimming pools has also increased accordingly. It is even more crowded during the summer peak season. The admission fee used to be two coins for children and four coins for adults; to the 1990s, two MOP for children, six MOP for students, and ten MOP for adults.
In addition to swimming, this pool is also used for other purposes. The most striking event is that, in 1954, the ring was built in the swimming pool, and a fight between Wu Gongyi and Chen Kefu was held; Macau Daily held a photo and video exhibition in 1960; in addition, competitions such as boxing, wrestling, table tennis and etc. were also held here. In 2002, Estoril Swimming Pool held the "Fiftieth Anniversary Water Carnival" event.Various events have been held, including photo exhibitions, singing, water sports, etc.
新花園泳池是本澳公共泳池中歷史最長的一個，一九五二年六月落成開幕。這座泳池當年建造費用達一百五十萬元，歷時兩載，當時規模之巨大，為華南之冠。它的面積寬廣，有容逾千觀眾的看台，泳池長五十公尺，寬廿五公尺，設備完善，符合當時國際標準，故過往每有泳賽，大多借此舉行。另有一個兒童池，可供幼兒嬉水習泳。
泳池初期設有飲食部、舞廳、溜冰場，後來拆建成今天的愛都酒店；露天看台也加建上蓋，讓觀眾免受雨淋日曬之苦。泳池每年夏季開放，為時僅數月。
泳池除游泳外，還時作他用，其中最令人矚目的是一九五四年曾在泳池搭建擂台，舉行哄動港澳的吳公儀、陳克夫比武；一九六零年《澳門日報》舉辦“影星攝影園遊會”；此外還有拳賽、摔角、乒乓球賽等，比賽場地均在泳池搭棚。二零零二年泳池舉行“五十周年紀念水上嘉年華”活動，節目豐富，有圖片展覽、歌星演唱、水上競技等，場面熱閙。
“Butterfly Method” Analysis：
Estoril Swimming Pool carries the memories of the older generation of Macao people and it is still loved by Macao new generation now. Its future development is also concerned by the general public, hoping to retain their memories. Numerous events have been held in Estoril Swimming Pool, and some of them had great influence on the society. Estoril Swimming pool is active in the lives of Macao residents as the choice of the place for swimming, which has also kept the building in a good condition. The plan of reusing Estoril Swimming Pool from Macao Government gives the future development to this swimming and will makes it alive again.
新花園泳池承載了老一輩澳門人的回憶，如今仍受到新生代澳門居民的喜愛，其未來的發展也受到廣大民眾的關注，希望能留住他們的回憶。眾多活動曾在新花園泳池舉辦，其中也不乏具有巨大影響力的活動，新花園泳池不斷活躍在澳門居民生活中，也讓建築保持了良好的狀況，政府對新花園泳池的再利用計畫讓其未來充滿無限可能。
References:
大眾報（1959）。《澳門工商年鑑 第三回（1958 - 1959）》。澳門：大眾報。
大眾報（1961）。《澳門工商年鑑 第五回（1961）》。澳門：大眾報。
劉品良（2002）。《澳門博彩業縱橫》。香港：三聯書店（香港）有限公司。
唐思（2004）《澳門風物誌》 第三集 ，澳門：澳門基金會，第72-73頁。ISBN 999371027X
Botas, J. (2013, January 1). Hotel Estoril: folheto turístico dos anos 60. Macau Antigo [web log]. Retrieved May, 2020, from
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