Olympic sports facilities may be at the Letňany exhibition grounds

Prague - If the Summer Olympic Games are held in Prague, a significant part may take place in the Prague Exhibition Grounds (PVA) Letňany in Prague. This is included in the concept proposal presented today at a press conference by the chairman of the board of SPGROUP, a.s., Pavel Sehnal. The concept concerns the solution of the Prague Northern Route and in the first phase, the project estimates costs of 13 to 15 billion crowns.
According to Sehnal, it is possible to create spaces in PVA that could be used even after the Olympic Games for exhibitions, commercial leasing, or as sports facilities. Currently, PVA has an area of 270,000 square meters, and the concept plans to expand the area by 80,000 square meters. According to him, the expansion of the PVA area would create 20,000 new jobs.
The proposal also includes the construction of a ceremonial stadium, which according to other options could also be created by renovating the Strahov stadium. According to Sehnal, the stadium in PVA could subsequently be converted into a national football stadium.
The concept anticipates the establishment of an information center in the shape of a sphere with an area of about 1,400 square meters, which will also feature a lecture hall. Furthermore, there is a plan to expand the exhibition area up to 136,000 m². The complex also includes tall office buildings covering more than 144,000 m². The buildings will be connected by footbridges. There are also plans for the construction of a hotel with an area of 23,000 m² and a congress center. According to Sehnal, construction work could begin in 2009.
All these spaces could, according to Sehnal, be utilized for the organization of the Summer Olympic Games. Sports facilities could be placed in the exhibition area. The construction of sports halls is also accounted for, along with a shopping center near the metro station and an Olympic village, which would be used as university dormitories after the games. Further phases of the expansion are expected to cost up to 50 billion crowns, according to Sehnal.
The proposal considers a total area of 72 hectares; currently, the PVA company, mostly owned by ABF, a.s., holds a lease from the city of Prague for 23.8 hectares. Last May, ABF became part of the SPGROUP.
Currently, the construction of the C line metro station is nearing completion, and there is also a plan for a ring road that will connect Letňany with the airport.
Sehnal presented the study of the expansion of the exhibition area in Letňany with possible use for the Summer Olympic Games to the Mayor of Prague, Pavel Bém, last week. The city council will decide whether Prague will bid for the Olympic Games in 2016, likely at the March meeting.