Kasimatis hall reopens at OAKA after an Expertise Report of the Technical Chamber, which deems it safe under conditions, the General Secretariat of Sports announced.

According to a related announcement, the Ministry of Sports received from the Technical Chamber of Greece the first Expertise Report, which was carried out on the completed Study regarding the static adequacy of the metal constructions Calatrava and the polycarbonate roofs of the OAKA facilities.

In this first Expertise Report, it is stated, with due scientific clarity and complete documentation, that under the application of specific conditions there are no safety risks for three areas in the central Stadium and the Cycle Track:

This is the “Giorgos Kasimatis” hall, the offices housed in the Central Stadium and the underground hall of the Olympic Cycling Track.

It is recalled that at the end of September, within the framework of the contract between the Ministry of Sports, OAKA and TAIPED for the project “Renovation of the Olympic Sports Center of Athens”, a Study was received which concluded that out of all the Calatrava Constructions, only the two Shelters – of the Central Stadium and of the Cycle Track – did not meet the legally permitted levels of static adequacy.

In this context, the General Secretariat of Sports gives ten clarifying answers for the reopening of these three spaces in the central Stadium and the OAKA Cycle Track:

1) Which parts of the OAKA does the TEE report concern and with what assumptions was it made?

The first Expertise Report of the TEE concludes with proposals for:

A. The “Giorgos Kasimatis” hall in the main Stadium
B. The management and service offices in the main Stadium
C. The underground multi-purpose room at the Cycle Track.

The issue under consideration is the existence of a safe passage for entering, staying and exiting the above areas, which are not related in terms of their static adequacy to the two Calatrava canopies.

In the Report it is stated that “access and the operation of these spaces are deemed safe” (with the necessary restrictions on the capacity of the Kasimati hall – due to its special entry/exit points – during trainings, matches and events by its users).

2) Is it safe from a static adequacy point of view for certain areas of the Stadium to operate when the TAIPED Study and the Ministry recognize that the Shelters do not meet the regulatory standards of static adequacy?

According to TEE it is safe. The Ministry accepts the scientific expertise and Studies of Scientists absolutely relevant to the subject. In the case under consideration, the TEE, whose members are distinguished scientists, in collaboration with the National Technical University of Metsov, gives an opinion that the specific areas can operate with absolute safety under clear conditions, as they are not affected by the two Housing Authority. The conditions set by the TEE describe the safe passages to the three areas.

3) Are there any first findings from the TEE study on the static adequacy of Stegastro? Can, as an operating license was given for the specific spaces, the Stadium also reopen with temporary interventions in the Shelter?

The first TEE Expertise Report on the Central Stadium Shelter confirms the TAIPED Study regarding the need to remove the polycarbonates, due to their wear and tear from the long time since they were installed.
Regarding the possibility of re-opening the Stadium, the first Report does not make any mention. We will wait for the next ones.

4) The TEE study was completed in 25 days, while the TAIPED study took several months. Was the TAIPED study delayed or was the TEE done too soon?

It should be emphasized that this is not a Study of the TEE, but its Expertise Report, on the already completed Study on the static adequacy of the five Calatrava metal structures (Central Stadium Shelter, Cycle Track Shelter, Agora, Wall of Nations and Gates) and the polycarbonate of the Homeowners of the OAKA facilities. They are two completely different things!
The Study commissioned by TAIPED, which concerns an overall assessment of ALL Calatrava metal constructions, was delayed in just under 10 months (December 2022 – September 2023).

It established, as is well known, that the Calatrava Shelters of the Central Stadium and the Cycle Track did not meet the legally permitted levels of static adequacy, which is why the decision was taken to suspend the operation of these two facilities and their adjacent areas.

In addition, the Expertise Reports of the TEE, on the Study, have not been completed. The first Report has just been delivered, which results in proposals for specific areas of the two OAKA facilities. Other Exhibitions will follow.

5) What is pending as deliverable from the TEE Report and when will it be delivered?

The next Expertise Report is pending for the control of the two Shelters (Central Stadium and Cycle Track) and under what conditions – interventions will become functional and the rest of the areas in the suspended facilities. It will be delivered when the TEE review is complete.

6) Did the TAIPED Study recognize that the specific areas are safe or not? If so, why didn’t you keep them running in the first place?

The TAIPED Study concerned the two Calatrava Housing (Central Stadium and Cycle Track) and recognized a static deficiency in them, not in the rest of the buildings.

Until the government received, as it should, a newer independent opinion, it did the obvious and decided to immediately suspend the operation of the two facilities, without any exception in view of the safety of workers and athletes. The specific areas were closed because they are close to Stegastro and their users (sports federations and clubs, with trainings and matches) were distributed to other facilities throughout Attica and their activity continued as normal.
At the same time, the government quickly forwarded the Study to the TEE, the most competent to decide whether and what can be operated safely. These spaces are now reopening after the recommendation of the TEE that it is safe to use them under certain conditions, regarding access to them.

7) How long will the specific areas remain open? Will they need to close again?

The specific areas will remain open and will not need to be closed again. They will reopen as soon as OAKA arranges the safe passages for the entry/exit to the above areas, as defined in the Expertise Report of the TEE.

8) The renovation works of the OAKA within the context of the Recovery Fund Project required the suspension of its operation during them anyway – regardless of the findings in the Housing – or can they be carried out in operation as well?

Once all the TEE Reports have been completed, it will be determined whether the respective renovation and maintenance works of the facilities will be able to be carried out in operation or should be temporarily suspended.

9) With the new data, will more time and resources be needed to renovate the OAKA? Can the Project that has been included in the Recovery Fund with a total budget of 57 million euros be completed within the strict timetables set by the TAA?

Until all the TEE Expertise Reports are completed neither the time nor the resources that may be required can be determined.

10) What are the more specific interventions recommended by the TEE so that the reopening of the three areas in the Cycle Track and the Central Stadium is absolutely safe?

The existence of a safe passage for the entry/exit to the above areas, i.e. a passage that is not affected by the two Residences. Specific entrances/exits will be clearly marked/directed.