Announcements about OAKA and the Calatrava shelter were made by Deputy Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis after the lockout that has entered the main stadium and the cycling track.

As he stated, there is no timetable for the completion of the maintenance works on the Calatrava canopy, at the OAKA football stadium, while for the bicycle track he said it is expected to be ready in 2024.

Mr. Vroutsis said in detail:

“We are here in the OAKA which was beating, which continues to beat despite the problems and which will continue to beat the heart of our sport. The OAKA which, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis committed in the summer of 2021, presenting the master plan for its upgrade, will once again become a landmark of Greece and of world sports. It will regain the shine and glamor it deserves, like in 2004 when it hosted the Olympic Games.

The OAKA of 1,000 acres, with its Olympic Stadium, with its Olympic Aquatics Center, with its 12 swimming pools and which we are hosted here today. With its great indoor gym, the Olympic Tennis Complex, the athletics training rooms and so much more in sports facilities.

The OAKA that the government managed to join the emblematic projects of the whole country. Although it was not originally included. Which are financed by the Recovery Fund, securing funding of 57 million euros to completely change its image, to upgrade it, to lift the entire OAKA even higher.

OAKA was the last to join this list and the first to complete the procedures to run the projects. In the two years 2021-2023, the first major phase was completed with great success. The necessary files were drawn up, the energy upgrade of the OAKA, the upgrade of the surrounding area and the study for the revision of the five Calatrava metal structures that had not been maintained until now were launched. Despite the efforts made in 2014 by the then minister, Yiannis Andrianos, and the Samaras government.

For the first time, a Greek government has comprehensive studies for the holistic upgrade of OAKA and secured funds to do so. As you already know, the study that lasted 10 months, from the end of November 2022, was delivered to me a few days ago and it states that the metal structures of the roof and the central stadium and the cycling track do not meet the legally permitted levels of static adequacy. On the contrary, in the marketplace, on the wall of the Nations and at the Gates, no such serious issue was recorded.

Immediately, with a sense of responsibility, from last Friday night we suspended all sports and cultural activities in the main stadium and the cycling track. Our primary concern was and remains the safety of athletes, athletes, fans and employees. Last Saturday, the relevant study was sent to the TEE, in order to quickly gather a group of experts in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens, in order to evaluate its assumptions and conclusions. But also to propose the further necessary actions.

As you understand and as we already know, the suspension creates heaps of issues in the smooth continuity of the competitive obligations of the dozens of federations, associations, the hundreds of sportsmen and women who used the two facilities. In addition, in the central stadium and the cycling track there are offices of federations and of course the administration and services of OAKA.

The best possible solutions had to be sought without any delay. Over the weekend we had successive meetings with Giorgos Mavrotas, with the entire sports community. We met with the president of the EOE, with the heads of federations and unions, with the administrations of the OAKA, the Olympic Facilities. We provided solutions for the transfer of planned events such as: The Fencing World Cup that was to be held in the hall of the cycling track, will be held in the indoor hall of the OAKA, in collaboration with KAE Panathinaikos, for which I thank you very much. Taekwondo championships will be held in the Olympic Village. The training activity will be transferred within Attica in consultation with mayors.

The cycling federation is financially supported with 150,000 euros, so that the national team can go to Bulgaria for training, as there is no other indoor cycling track in Greece. The issue of the seat of AEK in handball is pending, it is a matter of days to find a solution. As far as the Panathinaikos football team is concerned, I have personally pledged that there will be any help needed for the Panathinaikos team. As far as the federation offices are concerned, they will be moved to other areas within the OAKA. I want to thank the entire sports community, the employees of OAKA and the administrations of the sports facilities.

With the Prime Minister’s approval, the construction of the new Spyros Loui and Kymi multipurpose indoor gymnasium that will serve the housing needs of the national teams of fencing, handball and cheerleading, and other sports is being accelerated with secured funding of 7.5 million euros, which goes into it the budget we tabled today.

The annual budget of the transfers category of the Ministry of Sports is increased by 30%. that is, it increases by 13.5 million euros per year. 10 million euros are available for upgrading national sports facilities and 3.5 million euros go exclusively to the annual budget of the OAKA.

€1 million is available for fire protection and other improvements in Kautanzoglio. An additional 150,000 euros for the OAKA indoor track and field training facility, and an additional 300,000 euros for the Olympic Climbing Center. TAIPED is proceeding with all the necessary procedures to immediately initiate any actions required. For the bicycle track, in the worst case scenario, the restoration will be completed in 2024.

Long before the issue of Calatrava canopies with KYA, which we signed on August 31, 2023, was created, for the operation of sports facilities it is no longer allowed to hold matches in closed gymnasiums and open stadiums with more than 2,000 spectators without a fire protection certificate and a static permit.

In a letter on September 17 to the 17 sports centers supervised by the Ministry of Sports, they asked to be informed about outstanding issues and needs for the applicable operating licenses, for comments on facility inspection minutes, for fire protection certificates, for environmental permits and for the need new studies. For stability studies, for the need for further projects.

The development of sport is a priority for the government and is linked to the adherence to the technical specifications in the facilities and the safety of all”.