The Vila Real de Santo António City Council (VRSA) is investing 450 thousand euros, from the collection of tourist tax, in the renovation of the athletics track at the Sports Complex, a project lasting around three months that will allow it to host more national level competitions and international and increase the number of sports internships.
At the same time, the launch area is being redeveloped, an intervention budgeted at around 70 thousand euros.
«By investing in the Sports Complex, we are creating all the conditions to attract internships and competitions at the highest level. This measure also represents a clear fight against tourist seasonality, allowing to increase hotel occupancy rates and the number of overnight stays in our municipality in the low season", stated Álvaro Araújo, president of the Chamber of VRSA.
«With the 2024 Olympic Games, the use of the track in the first months of next year will reach unprecedented levels, as many national and international athletes prepare to choose Vila Real de Santo António as the preparation location for this event world-renowned, reinforcing the positioning of the region and the municipality as a sports city", reinforced Álvaro Leal, councilor for sports at the municipality.
According to the VRSA Chamber, «the new track will have eight running corridors and technical launching and jumping areas. It will be certified for international competitions, meeting the requirements of high-level athletics competitions».
The ongoing work «includes the complete removal of the existing pavement, which was in a high state of degradation, replacing it with a new one, (…) which will also be reflected in the athletes' performances».
«The new floor will allow the VRSA Sports Complex to be re-equipped «with all the conditions for training and holding national and international competitions and events, increasing the quality of the available offer and increasing the number of sports internships».
Between January and December 2023, the sports complex has already exceeded the number of internships carried out throughout 2022. This data demonstrates the growing interest in the equipment and justifies the importance of the track renovation work.
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