After the signatures for this important development, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, emphasized:
"I had committed, from the first moment I visited the "ghost" of the indoor swimming pool in Akrotiri, which was built at the expense of the General Secretariat of the National Assembly - the Greek people - but never worked, that, in collaboration with the Technical University of Crete, we could help in its "rebirth", provided there was a specific action plan.
I am happy for the close cooperation with the Rector and the executives of the Polytechnic University, I am happy because with the signatures today we will be able to auction within six months not only the operation of the Swimming Pool, which Chania so needs, but the overall configuration of a modern sports center. The local track and field, our international throwing champions, should stop training in inappropriate places, the Swimming Pool should be surrounded by open sports fields and alternative sports areas.
We are creating another sports hive, we support amateur sports and we do not just talk, but speak with actions."
The Rector of the Technical University of Crete, Evangelos Diamantopoulos, stated:
"The day with the signing of the Program Agreement is extremely important and joyful. The Study will be prepared by the Technical University of Crete immediately. And from the moment there is a Study, there will be the possibility of completing - finally - the Project, for the benefit of everyone. The Study, in fact, will not only include the technical part but also the Tender Documents. That is, the Technical University of Crete will deliver to the Deputy Ministry of Sports - and I warmly thank Mr. Avgenakis for the close cooperation - something complete that will be ready to be tendered from the moment it is included in a financial framework."
The President of the Chania Regional Chamber of Commerce, Panagiotis Svourakis, noted:
"With feelings of joy and satisfaction, I co-signed a historic agreement, the Program Agreement for a common goal of the Chania sports family and for every citizen of our prefecture. This, the operation after so many years of the indoor swimming pool in Akrotiri and the development of the surrounding area into a modern sports center with a track. Sports facilities and infrastructure that we so need in Chania."
New Democracy MP and former Rector, Vasilis Digalakis, welcomed the signing of the Programmatic Agreement, stating:
"Today's development is significant, as the signing of the Planning Agreement provides, after a long time, a substantial perspective for the restoration of the building and the surrounding area of the Akrotiri indoor swimming pool. I recall that the Technical University of Crete took the initiative, during my rectorship (2013-2017) and prepared at its own expense the Studies for this specific project, at the level of Tender Documents, after the signing of the relevant planning agreement with the General Secretariat of the Interior. Unfortunately, the previous government withdrew from the Planning Agreement and the process was not completed, resulting in a significant opportunity for Chania being lost.
This time, the will to move forward is given by all parties involved, in order to create, as quickly as possible, the conditions for the Project Auction. With its implementation, this multi-year open “wound” will be closed and Chania will acquire a modern, sustainable and absolutely necessary sports center, which will cover both the polytechnic community and the local society.”