Every two years, the Olympic Games spotlight the world's top athletes.

Each sport has its own governing body, which defines specific rules and regulations to be upheld at the competitive level. This includes guidance on dimensions for its venues. For instance, the pool you have in your backyard is more than likely not up to Olympic standards.

With the 2024 Summer Games in Paris quickly approaching, here's a rundown on some specifications for Olympic-sized swimming pools.

How long is an Olympic swimming pool?

World Aquatics, formerly known as the Fédération Internationale de Natation, is in charge of administering and governing competitive water sports worldwide. This includes swimming at the Olympic Games.

Each aquatic Olympic event has specific facility rules, according to World Aquatics. For swimming, the pool is classified as "long course" due to its measurements.

World Aquatics dictates an Olympic-sized swimming pool must be 50 meters, or approximately 164 feet, long. This measurement is taken from end to end of the pool, including the touch pads used for timing.

How wide is an Olympic pool?

There is no width requirement for an Olympic pool. However, there are requirements for lane dimensions.

An Olympic pool does not require a minimum number of lanes, but it typically has 10. World Aquatics outlines that lanes must be at least 2.5 meters wide, or about 8.2 feet. So, the total width of an Olympic pool is often 25 meters or 82 feet.

Swimming events in the 2024 Paris Olympics

There will be 35 swimming events at this year's Paris Olympic Games. This includes 17 men's events, 17 women's events and one mixed event (4x100 meter medley relay).

These are the men's and women's events at the 2024 Summer Games:

• 50 meter freestyle

• 100 meter freestyle

• 200 meter freestyle

• 400 meter freestyle

• 800 meter freestyle

• 1500 meter freestyle

• 100 meter backstroke

• 200 meter backstroke

• 100 meter breaststroke

• 200 meter breaststroke

• 100 meter butterfly

• 200 meter butterfly

• 200 meter individual medley

• 400 meter individual medley

• 4x100 meter freestyle relay

• 4x200 meter freestyle relay

• 4x100 meter medley relay

For swimming, each National Olympic Committee is allowed a maximum of 26 athletes for the men's and women's teams, respectively, with two athletes per event.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long is an Olympic pool? A guide to size ahead of 2024 games