After the relegation of the national football team from the European Football Championship, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has not given up on its plan to build and renovate football stadiums because we owe it to the national team, Minister Tonči Glavina said on Thursday.
Victories and defeats are an integral part of sports, however, the memories of the great successes that our footballers achieved under the leadership of coach Zlatko Dalić are still fresh, Minister Glavina told Hina during his visit to Rasinja, in Koprivnica-Križevci County.
When asked if, after the relegation of the national football team, the ministry's plans to construct new and renovate existing football stadiums, announced after Croatia won the silver in Russia, had changed, Glavnina answered negatively.
Money in the budget for football sports facilities exists, but it won't be spent in just one year, he said. The key cities are Zagreb and Split, with which we have been in talks on a continual basis. As for (Zagreb's stadium) Maksimir, there are some changes in the plans, which is considered good. As for Split, information indicates that the necessary documentation will be completed soon, Glavina said.
He added that the ministry and government's aim is to start continuously co-financing the two large projects as soon as possible, based exclusively on a partnership relationship.
"I have been actively dealing with this issue since the first day and I believe that by the end of this term, we will achieve great progress in that regard," Glavina said.
In addition to these two sports facilities, some others could also be declared facilities of national interest, said Glavina.
When asked about the renovation and expansion of the Koprivnica stadium, which was also mentioned in the context of renovation after the World Cup, the minister said that he was aware that a conceptual design had been made. Now we need to determine with the city and county authorities who will do what and how the cost will be shared, Glavina said.
(Hina/FaH)
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