The management of the Chania Public Health Association and the Chania Nautical Club reached a broad framework of cooperation in order to ensure the smooth operation of the Nea Chora swimming pool until its reconstruction work begins, at the meeting held at the “Samaria” hotel on Wednesday evening.
In the more than two-hour discussion, the presidents Mr. Svourakis and Mr. Hino, as well as members of the two administrations, developed proposals in order to alleviate the problems of the operation of the facility, especially the problem of oil, which has been a constant concern in recent times, mainly due to the high cost. The proposal to find sponsors was also put on the table of the dialogue, given that the Chania Regional Development Authority (due to a budget that will be submitted in the coming days) is not in a position to immediately secure money for the supply of oil in January. For its part, NOX, in case sponsors are found, will make available whatever means it has for their promotion.
The chairman of the Chania Municipal Swimming Pool Board, Takis Svourakis, presented the progress of the reconstruction and emphasized that the next step is for the OAK study to be approved (probably next week), then for the environmental approval and the archaeology to give the OK, and for the request for a building permit to be submitted, in order for the auction to take place, for the contractor to be selected and installed in the swimming pool.
"There is a commitment that things will be well advanced by January. The swimming pool will be built, I am sure of that. Of course, it is important that it is constantly operational for everyone", was Mr. Svourakis' response to a relevant question from the president of NOX about whether there is a timetable.
For his part, the chairman of the Board of Directors of NOX, Yiannis Chinos, noted… “We are glad that you confirm what the CEO of the OAK told us in the meeting we had. There is a concern among everyone about the current operation of the facility, since we know that money cannot be spent on anything, given that we are before the start of the reconstruction. The interests of the NOX and the EAK are common and not conflicting. We must be together, every day, and understand the problems and the daily life of the swimming pool. We are here to give the image of the facility and together to demand the best desired result from the General Secretariat. If the other EAKs are doing something good, let's copy it. Let's not have a public accounting logic in everything. There are solutions to the problems and together we can find them.”
“We will always push as much as we can, not only for the benefit of your club, but in general for the sports family of Chania”, added Mr. Svourakis.
After Wednesday's meeting, it is expected that there will be contact with the legal advisors and financial managers of both parties, in order to formulate an alternative proposal for the management of the swimming pool.
Within the framework of the broad cooperation between EAK Chania and NOX, a meeting will be attempted in the coming days with the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, in Heraklion.
Regarding the morning operation of the 50-person pool, it was agreed that it will open next week. Monday – Wednesday – Friday (starting from 16/12) only one leaf, while during the holidays it should be opened in its entirety, as the children - due to the holidays - will have double training sessions.
Finally, as announced by Mr. Svourakis, the modern timing "suitcase" is already in the hands of the Chania Swimming Association, so that we no longer have to borrow it from the Heraklion Swimming Association, and it will also be used in the reconstructed swimming pool.
EAK Chania and NOX thank the Perogiannis brothers for making the conference room of the “Samaria” hotel available for the meeting.