"Queen of Sports" at Military Academy - Construction of first track and field stadium in Serbia kicks off in October 2011

Athletes from Serbia and fans of the "queen of sports" will finally get a track and field stadium in 2012. Construction of the first facility of this kind in our country, worth about EUR 4.8 million, will commence in October 2011, in the location of the Military Academy in Belgrade, eKapija learns.

- The main project design should be finished in mid-July. We then expect that project to be approved and that a building permit will be issued after that. Following the adoption of the Action Plan by the Ministry of Economy and the appointment of the contractor, the construction works are expected to start in October - Branko Boskovic, the project coordinator for design and construction of the track and field stadium, says for eKapija.

This sports facility will be built in the location of the barracks Jovan Miskovic where the Military Academy is situated as well. Within this military complex, the lots intended for the track and field stadium span 22,000 square meters, while the entrance to that part of the complex will be built in Oslobodjenja boulevard. The stadium occupies the surface of 7,200 square meters, and it will be built in accordance with all the IAAF international standards for athletics competitions. There will also be stands with 1,000 seats for spectators.

- The stadium will be big enough to host competitions up to the level of the Balkans Athletics Championship. It will comprise an oval 200-meter running track with four lanes and a grassy inner field, which will be used to hold events like running, high jump, pole vault, hammer throw, long jump, etc. The running track and all contents are fixed and cannot be moved to enable other activities, which may be better because the stadium will then be used for athletics events only. According to the initial plan, the stadium was supposed to span about 9,300 square meters and have 6 moveable lanes, but that project was abandoned due to lack of finance – Boskovic explains for eKapija.

He also notes that the stadium will include other contents such as medical corner, that is, a doping control station, physical therapy room, gym... There should also be locker rooms, warm up rooms, as well as rooms for coaches and referees. One part of the stadium will be occupied by a conference hall with 100 seats, six offices for officials of the Athletics Association of Serbia, and there will also be a room for sports requisites.

- The future track and field stadium will also have an electronic sound system, a big semaphore, a commentator's booth, as well as a mini bar for athletes and spectators – says our interlocutor.

Boskovic says that the primary purpose of the stadium is to be used for practice by athletes, as well as to host civilian and military competitions.

- This facility is open to all people. Visitors will be able to test themselves because we will organize the diagnostics of physical fitness for all those interested. The stadium will be open 365 days a year, 16-17 hours a day - Boskovic stresses and adds that the stadium is also adapted to the needs of people with a physical disability, enabling them to compete and practice as well.

A total of RSD 480 million will be invested in the first track and field stadium in Serbia. The preliminary project and main project design is entrusted to Belgrade-based Centroprojekt.

- The facility will be a property of the Republic of Serbia, and it will be run by the Military Academy. The Ministry of Defense has provided land and infrastructure for the project, while the required funds come from the Athletics Association of Serbia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

For the first phase of construction, which should be finished in March 2012, a total of EUR 175 million has been provided from the National Investment Plan (NIP). According to our interlocutor, that phase will include the preparation works, construction of the structure and roof, and facade works. The roof structure and facade will be prefabricated.

- The funds for the second phase will be provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Athletics Association of Serbia from donations. That phase should include vocational works, installations works, and works on the space around the facility.

An idea about the construction of a track and field stadium in Novi Sad, next to the stadium Karadjordje, existed back in 2008 because the city was supposed to host the 2009 European Junior Athletics Championship, but the project was abandoned due to lack of finance.