First of all, I want to thank you for your presence at today's press conference.
We preferred, after the presence of the Deputy Minister of Sports in Chania, to conduct an interview rather than sending a Press Release, so that we could talk in person and you could ask any questions you might have.
I would like to start by saying that it was with great pleasure that we welcomed the Deputy Minister of Sports, Mr. Avgenakis, to Chania. One only has to think – and you certainly know this very well – how many years it has been since a Minister responsible for sports visited Chania. This in itself shows the Government's interest in sports facilities and in sports in general, both in Chania and in the rest of Greece, knowing that such visits take place at national sports facilities throughout the country.
Also, I cannot hide our satisfaction and joy, because, to our invitation, the institutional bodies of Chania and many representatives of sports clubs responded, demonstrating in practice their interest in sports in Chania and how important a place sports holds for the people of Chania.
We visited all three facilities of the Chania Sports Center, so that the Deputy Minister of Sports and the team that accompanied him could have the best possible view of the facilities.
Starting from the National Shooting Range of Chania, I can tell you with certainty that both the Deputy Minister of Sports, Mr. Avgenakis, and the prefectural MPs who accompanied him, as well as the representatives of organizations and associations, were impressed with the facilities of the shooting range. In fact, some of them did not hesitate to test their shooting skills!
We then visited the swimming pool, where, as you already know, we suspended its operation due to the very serious risk, according to the studies and risk reports that we received and informed about in the previous period. Since then, we have made continuous and intensive efforts so that the swimming pool can be granted again, but in complete safety, for use. Now, we are waiting for the immediate, extraordinary grant of €250,000, as pledged by Mr. Avgenakis, for the urgent works that are needed and include the removal of the existing and construction of a new cover for the 25m pool, maintenance of the cover for the 12.5m pool as well as works on the subsoil and the foundations under the pools. Next week, in accordance with the Deputy Minister's commitments, we expect the arrival of technical services from the General Secretariat of the Interior for a thorough autopsy, in order to quickly launch the procedures.
Finally, regarding the "Elena Venizelou" National Stadium, Mr. Avgenakis committed to the immediate construction of a new warm-up track worth €100,000 and to the Energy Upgrade of Electric Lighting worth €965,000. Both of these projects have been included in the PDE and we expect their immediate implementation and completion in the coming months.
At the same time, as the administration of the Chania Sports and Recreation Center, we would like to announce the Programmatic Agreement that we will conclude in the coming days with the Chania Regional Unit and will include the maintenance of the parquet, the supply of a new, advanced, electronic scoreboard and the replacement of windows and frames in the indoor basketball court for a total value of €40,000, as well as the supply of touch panels worth €14,000 at the Nautical Sports Center.
Also, regarding the Weightlifting facilities, we are in the final stage of the static adequacy studies so that upon their completion, this project can be included in the PDE and we can proceed with the restoration of the facilities and the Weightlifting areas can be put back into use.
In conclusion, I want to tell you that in a very short period of time, the process of upgrading the sports infrastructure of Chania, which for many years had not been maintained with the problems known to everyone, has already begun in practice. And you should know that we are not stopping here. The intention of the administration of the Chania Sports and Recreation Center is to add all three facilities to the energy upgrade programs that will follow, so that we can have quality sports facilities, of a high standard, as they deserve in our Chania.