19.08.2015.

Ministers of Defence and Sports visit the construction site of athletic hall at Banjica

Ministers of Defence and of Youth and Sports, Bratislav Gasic and Vanja Udovicic visited today the construction site of athletic hall at Banjica to inspect the works on the construction of that sports facility, which will be unique in the region according to its function and capacity.

- The Government of the Republic of Serbia has provided sufficient funds, joint teams are constantly working, and we expect to meet here again on 19th December when the works on the second phase of this facility will be done. Next year we are to move to the third phase, i.e. arrangement of the outer space, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said expressing confidence that all the capacities will be fully prepared for the European Athletics Championship that is to be held in our country in 2017.

Minister Udovicic expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Defence for recognising the importance of building a facility which is essential for athletics in Serbia, noting that the pace of works which were initiated five years ago has seen satisfactory development only in the last year.

- Construction of the hall is one of the conditions to hold the European Athletics Championship which we are bound to organize. Therefore, this hall has great significance for all of us, the Minister of Youth and Sports said expressing his confidence that the construction of the athletic hall will attract athletes from the neighbouring countries to come to practice there, on which, among other things, the remarkable results of the Serbian athletes will have a decisive influence.

President of the Serbian Athletics Federation Veselin Jevrosimovic pointed out that the construction of athletic hall in Banjica will finally provide the national athletics with its own "roof over the head". He said that the hall will provide adequate conditions for athletes to practice but would also save significant funds which are currently allocated annually for practices of the athletes abroad.

The new athletic compound of halls will be located in a part of the "General Jovan Miskovic" barracks at Banjica to include, besides the indoor and open training facilities for track and field, decorated public areas and parking space for visitors and employees. Land for construction of single athletic complex in the region was ceded by the Ministry of Defence, while the works are financed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Being designed according to the highest sports standards, the space of athletic hall will be fully adapted to the needs of future users such as the Military Academy and the Serbian Athletics Association. Besides them, the capacity of the athletic hall will be used by recreationists and people with disabilities.