Liberec received a grant of 190 million CZK from the state for the renovated swimming pool

Liberec - Liberec received a grant of 190 million from the National Sports Agency (NSA) for the renovation of the municipal swimming pool, which began last autumn and costs more than three-quarters of a billion. The city hall is also seeking a European grant, hoping to obtain up to 230 million crowns from the operational program for the environment. The deputy mayor Šárka Prachařová (ANO) informed journalists of this today.

"It is still under evaluation," she said. According to her, the city does not yet know when it might know the result.

The city hall will use the money from the NSA for construction modifications related to the 50-meter pool. "And everything related to it, whether it is towers, changing rooms, and other facilities that will be used by sports clubs," noted Prachařová.

The modernization of the swimming stadium, which was attended by around half a million people annually before its closure, has also been supported by a grant from the Liberec Region. So far, the city has 50 million approved from the promised 150 million crowns. "The remaining 100 is a question of further political negotiations between the city and the region," the deputy added.

The city hall expects that ideally, the received grants will cover more than two-thirds of the costs of the swimming complex renovation. For this reason, the city has taken an overdraft loan with a limit of 750 million, stating that it will only draw money from it in case of a shortage of its own funds.

The two-year modernization of the more than 40-year-old swimming stadium with three pools, saunas, a gym, shops, and a pizzeria began last autumn. So far, mainly demolition has taken place, but that should soon change. "Demolition work on the pool should be completed this month. We still have the last 14 days for dismantling the roof structure," said the deputy mayor Adam Lenert (ANO). The main goal of the reconstruction is to replace old technological equipment, repair the leaking roof, glaze the building, and deal with the leaking main pool basin. The complex will also undergo a significant reconstruction, wherein apart from the pools, only the pizzeria will remain in its place.