The point reached by the studies carried out by the Technical University of Crete for the restoration of the indoor swimming pool in Akrotiri was presented by the Foundation's technical service to the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, in the presence of the New Democracy MP for Chania, Vasilis Digalakis, and the president and members of the Managing Committee of the Chania Sports and Recreation Association.
The discussion took place on the basis of the implementation of the program contract that has been implemented since September 2021 and includes, in addition to the restoration of the swimming pool, the track and field facilities, especially for the throwing events.
"Mr. Rector needs to legitimize or strengthen the decisions that have been made during the time of Mr. Digalakis. We are waiting for the Technical University of Crete, which is also the owner of the land, on a programmatic agreement that bears the signatures of all parties, on how we will proceed. For us, it is clear how the facilities for the athletics throws must be created. Although in October 2017 the creation of these facilities is clearly described. It is the job of the Technical University as to where and how. I simply felt today that there are other thoughts and other concerns," pointed out the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis.
For his part, the New Democracy MP for Chania and former Rector of the Technical University of Crete, Vasilis Digalakis, noted that one of the issues examined during his time was that of the swimming pool, as, as he said, it is of great importance for the city of Chania, while he clarified that the Senate's decision of 2017 provided for the athletics facilities.
"The Technical University of Crete will undertake the restoration studies and then funding will be sought. The previous government devalued the programmatic one, but we advanced the study and reached the level of tender documents. Today, the General Secretariat of the University is making a gift to the Technical University, so that a sports center can be created that the institution will have a privileged relationship with and will increase its assets, plans for the future and especially the plot of land on which the swimming pool is located," added Mr. Digalakis, emphasizing that the 60,000 euros for updating the study are more than enough.
The Rector of the Technical University of Crete, Vangelis Diamantopoulos, stated that the programmatic agreement speaks of general goals, while he requested
"We have zoned the land so that the sports facilities can be built. From the Minister's side, the issue was raised that if the Technical University is not committed regarding the other facilities, then he will consider continuing the funding. We want to contribute to the creation of the sports center, but because we are going to grant the land uses and because there will be a separate management body, the Senate will have to decide. So far, the Senate is legally committed only for the swimming pool," added Mr. Diamantopoulos.