With the signing of the amendment to the program agreement between the General Secretariat of Sports, the Technical University of Crete and the Chania Sports and Recreation Center, for the Akrotiri Sports Center, 2022 came to an end.
The chairman of the Steering Committee, Panagiotis Svourakis, took stock of the actions for 2022, noting that there will be developments for the swimming pool in Akrotiri by March at the latest, while for the reconstruction of the swimming pool in Nea Chora, the tendering of the project is expected around the end of January.
In detail, Mr. Svourakis points out:
When we took over the helm of the Chania Sports and Recreation Authority in August 2021, the primary concern at the meeting of the new administration with the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, was the reconstruction of the Nea Chora swimming pool, as it was found that everything had been “frozen”. Thus came the new programmatic contract between the General Directorate of Sports and Recreation-OAK-NOX, with the Sports and Recreation Authority monitoring the progress of the studies. From then on, the obstacles that presented themselves… were overcome and we are now in the pleasant position of discussing the tendering of the project around the end of January, with an initial budget of 8 million euros.
At the same time, however, until the long-awaited reconstruction, we managed to operate the aging facility with dignity, with our primary concern being the safety of young and old athletes who are active there.
We fully staffed the Nea Chora nautical sports center with our employees, so that they are always present at all events and training sessions, to ensure a sense of security and avoid any accidents.
It is worth noting that the huge changes in energy prices made the installation unprofitable in terms of costs. For example, from the total budget of the Chania Public Health Authority for 2022, which amounts to just over 1 million euros, 800,000 euros went to the operating costs of the swimming pool, with electricity and oil costing us over 600,000 euros.
AKROTIRIO SPORTS CENTER
However, we have also made progress with the Akrotiri Sports Center, as we had agreed to name it in the planning agreement of August 30, 2021. A small obstacle, some amendments that had been rightfully requested since 1/6/2022 (regarding the management and operation by the EAK) were overcome and thus on 22/12/2012, the new amending planning agreement was signed between the General Secretariat of the National Sports Council, the EAK of Chania and the Technical University of Crete, with a small extension of two months, so that the study could be paid for and the way could be opened for immediate inclusion in the National Development Program and tendered - once the studies were ready.
The initial budget of the project amounts to 12 million Euros.
NATIONAL STADIUM OF CHANIA
At our National Stadium, the indoor gym was literally transformed. With the help of the Region, the window frames were replaced, the parquet was changed, the locker rooms were painted and maintained by EAK employees, and the services offered are constantly being upgraded, giving the indoor arena a new look and now hosting A1 category matches, as well as other national categories.
The warm-up was completed, thus implementing the program for a 130,000 euro project, not large, but very important for holding major competitions.
Let's not forget the fitness equipment for athletes and the public, worth 20,000 euros, in an elegant space that was created.
As for the issue of electric lighting, there was indeed a serious obstacle from the Court of Auditors, however the project will proceed. However, until it is completed, do not forget that the administration never left the stadium in the dark. With quick reflexes and in collaboration with the Secretariat, decent lighting was installed for evening training sessions, until the completion of the electric lighting project.
For the Stadium substation, on which work begins in January, we have already received a relevant emergency grant of 35,000 euros, as it was determined that there are risks to the safety of athletes.
Various events were held at the National Stadium, such as the Crete Marathon, club events and conferences, the VENIZELIA-CHANIA 2022 Bronze category track and field meeting. In fact, we received the best comments for the meeting from the Spanish IAAF judge. The bar is raised even higher, since the first pan-Hellenic club, the G.S. ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS, is active in the facilities.
Equally important is that in December 2022, after many efforts, the study of a large hall (weightlifting) under the stands, with a budget of 323,000 euros, was included in the EPA. It will be auctioned in January and implemented next summer. This is a project that is not that big, but very important, which has been causing dysfunction in clubs in recent years, especially when bad weather conditions prevail.
The goal in 2023 is to include in the EPA the ready-made studies that exist from the General Secretariat for the change of the tartan and the turf, as well as the irrigation systems, so that we can also host football matches. This is a project worth 1,280,000 euros.
In closing, we await the studies that are currently being prepared for the energy upgrade of the tennis building, as well as the improvement of the group's courts.
NATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF CHANIA
Finally, regarding the shooting range, I think the picture has changed drastically, despite the meager resources we have.
First of all, we upgraded the security of the site, installing, in consultation with the Chania Security and the Chania Subdistrict, a security camera system and constant monitoring of the facility. Thus, we saved 40,000 euros this year, an amount that will be saved every year.
At the same time, it was staffed with two people from OAED, while others also come at regular intervals to help with minor repairs and gardening work.
Also, after many years, the lighting was replaced, while the skeet-trap fields were enriched with soil, which can now host major competitions, as was the case with the top meeting "BATTLE OF CRETE", with a large participation of athletes from Cyprus.
The goal, of course, for a fourth trap-skit field remains, so that the facility can now have an Olympic character and very large competitions can be organized.
As for the employee who is retiring, an issue that caused concern among the unions, we have already taken care of it and the Deputy Ministry will have at our disposal the person who will be trained and will continue the uninterrupted operation.