The President of the National Stadium of Chania, Mr. Takis Svourakis, gave a full-length interview about the National Stadium of Chania to the journalist of the website kriti360.gr, Manos Vaidakis.
“This is not the first time that the imposing but bulky and slightly (to a great extent, between us) old-fashioned (in 2021) floodlights of the National Stadium of Chania have been the subject of reporting and discussion.
They were installed in the mid-1980s and have since become the trademark of the National Stadium of Chania. However, since then the gigantic and ungainly floodlights have been maintained only a few times and probably never as befits such an installation.
The result today, basically for years, is that the 40-meter-high pylons show severe corrosion and, externally, at least, many parts appear deeply rusted.
An image that justifiably causes concern and concern among the hundreds of athletes, whether citizens or club athletes, who visit the Stadium daily or even parents who send their children there for sports. Of course, the concern is not limited to the floodlights but also to several other parts of the Stadium.
Besides, let's not forget that we are talking about an "aged" sports infrastructure that this year blew out its 85th birthday candles (the year of construction was in the distant 1936) and for which in the last several decades any interventions have been limited to make-up, retouching and botox injections. It is precisely because of its age that in recent years the philosophy of deconstruction has been followed: Instead of adding pieces and auxiliary infrastructure, they are removed, no longer withstanding the passage of time (ed. sections of stands, weightlifting and instrumental hall, etc.).
Before we move on to the paraphrase, see some characteristic images that demonstrate the small and large problems identified within the National Stadium facilities, most of them from a relevant post in the "CHANIA Complaints-Reports" group, which was the spark for this particular report.
As you have obviously seen from the photos, the situation at the historic Stadium does not seem ideal, especially when we are talking about a stadium in the city center and at the same time the only one that is suitable for mass sports and athletics clubs.
However, this seems to be changing significantly in the near future, as the new president of the Chania Sports and Recreation Association, Takis Svourakis, claims. As he revealed to kriti360, 2022 is expected to be a year of major changes and new projects at the "Elena Venizelou" Stadium, which in the coming months will turn into a construction site with a multitude of projects, many of which were initiated by previous administrations.
By the way, an important clarification to avoid misunderstandings: The report is not the subject of the work of the latest administrations of the EAK (the current one is in fact very recent and only from the beginning of August), which, moreover, although always dependent on the moods of the General Secretariat of State (to which the ESX belongs) struggle with whatever (meager) means they have to maintain the facilities in a decent condition. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
So we have and we say…
Headlight maintenance and upgrade
You saw the problems above that should have been addressed…yesterday. What you haven't seen in years is the almost 200 floodlights on the four pillars being turned on simultaneously. Partly because the need hasn't arisen, partly because they never all work at the same time, partly because the operating cost is enormous. As if to say that they are also quite useless.
Anyway, the most serious thing is that the heart is trembling with these 35-year-old dereks hanging over the… head of the city, given that they are seriously corroded. After all, it wasn't long ago that a floodlight at the Chania Swimming Pool broke like a twig and we were lucky to avoid accidents...
However, as the GGA engineers who were recently in Chania and in turn the President assured us, there is no reason for concern. At the same time, he says what he believes would be the most ideal solution for the electric lighting masts, which, however, is not currently provided for by the GGA. So we are comfortable with the beasts…
According to the schedule, the project is expected to be completed in the first half of '22. Initially, in-depth maintenance work will be carried out on the four pillars and in a second year, the floodlights will be replaced with new LED lights. Mr. Svourakis explains exactly how the work will be done in the video that follows.
Indoor Gym
However, the replacement and energy upgrade of the electric lighting system will not be
the only works that will be done on the Stadium's infrastructure.
In a few days, the Indoor Gym will close for a week to replace window frames and glass, while before the year ends, it will close again for another week to carry out maintenance work on the parquet.
Weightlifting Room
However, it seems that there will be developments soon regarding the weightlifting room, which has remained closed for years due to structural problems. Mr. Svourakis is optimistic that the room will reopen next year.
Warm-up track for track and field athletes
Another project that is now entering the implementation phase is the long-awaited warm-up for track and field and classical sports in general.
A few days ago, the EAK administration received the contract signed by Deputy Minister Avgenakis for the execution of a project that should be completed by the end of March. The project has a budget of 60,000 euros and has been underway for several years.
And staff recruitment
Finally, as announced by Mr. Svourakis on October 22, 8 people will be hired, technicians of various specialties, who for the next two years will solve the major problem of understaffing of the personnel potential. The recruitments are being made through an OAED program and are expected to significantly help in the maintenance of the three facilities of the EAK (Stadium, swimming pool and shooting range).
Let's see..."
kritti360.gr-Manos Vaidakis