Belgrade to get unique Water Sports Center – new contents on Ada Ciganlija in October

At the beginning of October, unique training-center for water sports will be opened on Ada Ciganlija, and it will have its first test shortly after the opening – the Sava lake will be the host of Serbian kayaking and water skiing championships and other sports contests.

The Center for rowing, diving, sailing, fishing and other water sports is situated on the left bank of the Sava lake, in the vicinity of the referee tower.

- Ada Ciganlija is the only place in the city whose geographic position and infrastructure make it possible for people to go in for wide variety of water sports, which led to the idea of opening aforementioned center on Ada –Zoran Gajić, the CEO of public company "Ada Ciganlija", told “eKapija”.

He points out that the new facility has been built on the lake’s bank, and that it will make functioning of sports clubs much easier.

- The facility will have a room where sportsmen can keep their equipment, one other room will be put at the disposal of the Ambulance service, which will additionally improve its work since the new location will enable quicker reaction in emergency situations, while the third room will be used for organization of various educational environmental programmes – said Gajić.

Sports equipment that will be put at the disposal of all water sports fans has already been procured.

- For example, divers will have a compressor for filling oxygen bottles at their disposal, and there is also equipment that will be used by the Ambulance service.

The funds for construction of the center have been set aside from the budget of public company "Ada Ciganlija", and total value of the investment is about 20m RSD.

The architectural plans for the place where water sports lovers will gather and train have been drawn by company BMSK, while the works are carried out by "Jugogradnja" from Belgrade.

Tennis courts just like at "US Open"

This autumn, Ada Ciganlija is going to get a sports hall at 1,000 square meters with two tennis courts with stands. These tennis courts, which are situated on the left bank of the Sava lake, across the road from mini golf courts, in the vicinity of existing clay courts, will have the same hard surface as the one that is used at "US Open".

- These courts are built according to the up-to-date standards, and they are similar to professional tennis courts all over the world. Construction of the hall commenced in spring 2009, but it was discontinued for a while because of the bathing season. The project was elaborated by "Stil point", while “Tehnikom Construction” carries out the works on construction of the hall, which are close to end – says the CEO of "Ada Ciganlija" and adds that public company “Ada Ciganlija” and the city of Belgrade, through the Secretariat for Sports, invested about 25m RSD in that facility.

He explains that, because of the specific surface, the hall will not be used for other sports, but it will be used by Ada Ciganlija as an indoor facility for its socially responsible work in the months when outdoor activities are impossible.

Following the completion of construction of the hall, public company "Ada Ciganlija" will announce a public invitation for rental of hall by sports clubs or associations that have already dealt with rental of tennis courts.

In that way, Ada Ciganlija will be able to collect funds for the sports that are not that popular or commercial, and whose development is something the city of Belgrade wants to take part in.