Serious problems in relation to the safety of stadiums and sports venues in Cyprus were identified on Wednesday during the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, which re-examined the suitability of sports venues in terms of safety, health and hospitality services.
During the session it was highlighted that there is a serious risk that there will be no stadiums during the new football season, while it was noted that while there are serious deficiencies or even irregularities no permanent solutions can be found, with the result that these problems are multiplying.
In a statement, Deputy Chairman of the Education Committee, Chrysanthos Savvidis, said that only two stadiums in Cyprus - namely the GSP and AEK Arena - can offer safety to athletes and spectators, noting that most stadiums in Cyprus are out of specification.
He added that there is a serious risk that there will be no stadiums in the new football season, and said that officials "discount" the stadiums.
In addition, he said that in many stadiums there are no seats and many toilets, especially for people with disabilities.
DISY MP Giorgos Karoullas said the issue is very serious "and touches on the whole society and the safety of participants in sports activities, and all fans."
"DISY's view," he said, "is that the responsible parties, COA, Clubs, Federations, Federations, Schools, must prioritize the priorities, so that the stadiums, especially of refugee clubs, can operate with the necessary safety standards as soon as possible, while planning to find the necessary resources, so that they can operate with the new season, even with the minimum safety standards."
AKEL MP Christos Christofides spoke of a "very serious issue" with the safety of stadiums and the lack of sports facilities in Cyprus, noting that it was mentioned in the Committee that classical sports matches for the last five years have been held only in Limassol, because, as he explained, only there is the necessary infrastructure for classical sports.
He also referred to the non-accessibility of people with disabilities to the stadiums, the non-implementation of the legislation on violence in stadiums and the problems faced by refugee clubs.
Mr. Christofides pointed out that all this is "the result of the lack of political will" on the part of the Government to support sport, adding that not a single cent was included in the Resilience and Recovery Fund for the issue of sport, a social activity that employs dozens of citizens.
He indicated that "not only meetings in the Presidential Palace are needed, but projects to support sport", to underline that "the Stadium Licensing Authority should not feel comfortable with the current situation in the stadiums".
The MP of the Social Democrats Movement, Andreas Apostolou, stressed that there is a problem in the quality and quantity of sports facilities, while stressing the need for the creation of a Deputy Ministry of Sports, in order to give the perspective to those who are professionally and amateurly involved in sports.
DPA MP Alekos Tryfonidis said that "the stadiums are built with specifications from 20 years ago", adding that MPs "are receiving complaints and findings that many of them have a high risk index in structural adequacy, in roofing, perimeters, accessibility for people with disabilities, parking spaces, toilets and so much more".
He said the DPA considers the issue as very serious and aims to design a strategic plan with a specific timetable by all relevant authorities to provide effective solutions to these problems.
The President of the Cyprus Paraplegics Organization, Dimitris Lambrianides, stressed that this problem is maintained, noting that the lack of accessibility to people with disabilities poses risks.
He also said that immediate actions and actions should be carried out for safety at the stadiums.
Source: CNA
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