City of Chemnitz applies for funding for the reconstruction of the main stadium in the Sportforum
The City of Chemnitz has submitted a funding application to the Saxon Ministry of the Interior for the reconstruction of the main stadium in the Sportforum. Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig announced this today.
The main stadium is the largest sports facility in the Sportforum and an important training centre for the national athletics base in the throwing and jumping disciplines.
In accordance with the city council resolution from April 2014, the city of Chemnitz had defined the refurbishment of the main stadium as one of the most important measures in the action plan for the Sportforum, which was developed in collaboration with the city sports association and the Olympic training centre.
The indoor sports areas, running track and the area inside the running track are to be renovated. In addition, the sanitary facilities and changing rooms for the athletes are to be modernised. The technical equipment for lighting and sound systems is also to be overhauled. The marathon tower will at least be secured. There are also plans to dismantle the spectator stands (except for the grandstand building).
For the Chemnitz base as a training centre and talent factory for athletics, the use of an intact training facility is urgently required.
The Chemnitz sports forum is home to the federal and state training centre, the Chemnitz/Dresden Olympic training centre and two elite sports schools, the sports high school and the sports secondary school. The main stadium is used by track and field athletes (Leichtathletikclub Erdgas Chemnitz e. V., Olympiastützpunkt Chemnitz/Dresden e. V., Leichtathletikverband Sachsen e. V.) as a training and competition centre. In athletics, a national and state athletics centre is located at the site in conjunction with the LAC Erdgas Chemnitz e. V., the Chemnitz/Dresden Olympic Training Centre, the elite sports schools (sports high school, sports secondary school) and the sports boarding school. The throwing and jumping disciplines have been designated as a recognised federal athletics base by the BMI and the top professional association.
The stadium as an important training centre for the national athletics base is of great importance for the long-term prospects of the location. Currently, 30 squad athletes train in Chemnitz, making it a focal point in Saxony.
LAC Erdgas Chemnitz e. V. is the main user of the centre and, with more than 500 members, is the leading athletics club in the Chemnitz area with state and national significance. In addition to the existing recreational sports programme, its focus is clearly on competitive sport.
The city of Chemnitz currently estimates the total cost of the reconstruction at around 5.6 million euros. Around 3.4 million euros have now been applied for as funding from the Ministry of the Interior. Once the funding has been approved, the construction period is scheduled to run from 2016 to 2019.
"The state has supported us in the application process so far," says Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. "We are now hoping for a correspondingly high priority from the federal government."
The procedure: The Ministry of the Interior examines the city's application and classifies the measure in its own priority list and submits a funding proposal to the federal government. This is decisive for the funding talks between the Free State and the Federal Ministry of the Interior in the autumn. A possible funding decision is expected in May 2016.