Pentathlon Bypasses New Palm Desert Aquatic Center For Palm Springs

The $7.7 million Palm Desert Aquatic Center -- set to open this weekend -- is no longer in the running to host the 2012 World Cup Pentathlon.

The event will most likely be held at the Palm Springs swim center Feb. 20-26.

“There is no charge to use that one. From my understanding … it is free and it didn’t require council approval. I guess it was less complicated,’’ said Frankie Riddle, director of special programs.

The Palm Desert City Council had been set to decide whether to cover the cost of the fee to use the city's pool, which could have been up to $2,000.

City Manager John Wohlmuth said complications arose when the organization asked to use the entire park, closing it to the public.

“The YMCA is running the Aquatic Center and to request the ‘Y’ to provide the pool free goes against out attempt for cost recovery and it will take staff and cleanup for this event,’’ Wohlmuth said.

He said that organizers have contracts with hotels in Rancho Mirage and other parts of the valley, but not Palm Desert.

The Pentathlon is a qualifier to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.