Design & Development

Foundation stone laid for new Slovakia arena

Featured image credit: Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee

Work has officially commenced on a new 5,000-capacity arena in the Slovakian town of Šamorín.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach attended an event last week to lay a ceremonial foundation stone for the project, which is expected to take two years to complete.

The multi-purpose arena will be built on the premises of the Olympic Training Center in Šamorín, which is a short distance from the capital of Bratislava. The venue will be capable of hosting up to 15 Olympic sports, including basketball, volleyball, handball and tennis.

The arena will be used by national teams, as well as local sports clubs, coaches and instructors. The process of selecting a contractor for the project is currently underway.

The Slovakian government is set to provide €20m (£16.8m/$20.4m) for the construction of the facility. The total estimated value of the project is €31m, with the owner of the current sports complex also set to contribute funds.

The project has been facilitated by a contract between the Ministry of Tourism and Sport (MCRŠ) and the Olympic Arena company, which was founded by the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee (SOŠV).

Bach said: “This project cannot be compared to many others, if any, in the world. I was really impressed by what I saw here and what I heard here about the new multi-functional hall. For Europe and the world, it is an example of what you can achieve when a national Olympic committee, political authorities and the private sector come together. It is a project not only for sport, but also for youth and the future.”