Swimming pool complex in Sokobanja opens prior to August 2011 - Dutch Nascom interested in development of sports in South Serbia

An outdoor swimming pool, which the citizens of Sokobanja and the guests of that famous tourist destination in the south of Serbia have been expecting for 20 years, is going to be built next year. It is a complex that will span 2 ha in the settlement of Podina and be big enough for about 1,000 visitors.

As eKapija has been told by Marija Zikic, the Head of the Development Department in that municipality, construction of 3 swimming pools is in the pipeline, in which about 130 million dinars will be invested by the municipality and the Government of Serbia.

- The complex will be financed with the funds from the aid for the construction industry. We intend to have a semi-Olympic swimming pool built, as well as a swimming pool for non-swimmers and a swimming pool with water attractions such as various types of water slides. The complex will also comprise a facility at 400 square meters, which will include, among the rest, a fitness center, locker rooms and a cafe bar – says Ms. Zikic.

The Directorate for Town Planning and Development of Sokobanja is responsible for the look of the swimming pool complex, while the contractor should be selected by the end of the year.

- We have never had an outdoor swimming pool in Sokobanja, but only indoor swimming pools within hotels. The commencement of the construction depends on the weather, but the works should begin in March 2011 at the latest and end five months later so that we should make the citizens and guests of Sokobanja happy already in the next season – Marija Zikic points out.

The swimming pool complex is only part of a sports center whose construction is envisaged by the Detailed Regulation Plan for Podina. The settlement of Podina is about 1.5 km away from the center of the municipality and it already possess a stadium. All sports contents will span about 20 ha, while the construction of sports fields will be carried out in phases.

The first phase that includes the construction of an auxiliary football field has already been completed, the second phase is the construction of the swimming pool complex, while the construction of tennis courts and a sports hall is in the pipeline for the following period.

- We are currently negotiating with Dutch Nascom Sport on the construction of another 4 auxiliary football fields. The company and the municipality will be working together on this project - said Ms. Zikic.

According to her, the Dutch company plans to bring Dutch sportsmen to Sokobanja for preparations. The opening of a football academy for this part of Serbia is also in the pipeline since Nascom already has a sports academy in the Netherlands.