A new sports complex will open in the Zhurzhevo microdistrict of Vitebsk

On the eve of this significant event, we visited the site with the construction supervisor – the director of the Vitebsk Regional School of Higher Sportsmanship, Igor Kanygin.

Igor Vladimirovich, himself a former multiple world and European Greco-Roman wrestling champion, and a medalist of the Moscow Olympics, does not hide his joy: after all, it is planned to create a Center for the Olympic Reserve in martial arts here, one of the best, as he hopes, in the country.

Initially, this building belonged to a military unit quartered here. It housed a club and a sports hall. Then, the construction of a cinema began on its basis. However, after Belarus gained independence and the military left, the facility turned out to be useless to anyone.

In the late 1990s, during a period of relative financial prosperity for the football club "Lokomotiv", an idea supported by the authorities emerged to create a training base for the team here. Construction began, which was soon also "successfully" frozen for 10 years.

Finally, in 2008, the building was transferred to the balance of its current owner – the Vitebsk Regional School of Higher Sportsmanship, and a new stage in its history began. The customer for the construction was the Capital Construction Department of the Regional Executive Committee, while the contractors constantly changed. The right to complete the long-delayed construction fell to LLC "Rumstroy", which brought it to completion. The attention paid to the facility at various levels is evidenced, for example, by the fact that a few months ago it was visited by the Minister of Sports and Tourism of Belarus, Alexander Shamko.

The territory around the complex (it occupies about 4 hectares in total) is a real pleasure to behold today. The construction debris, which had been scattered generously across the area for many years and also served as an informal dog walking spot, has been cleared. Today, it is clearly demarcated by a metal fence. The car park, pavement, and access road have been asphalted. Benches have been installed, and future lawns are being formed. But the main attraction, of course, is the 2-story white and blue building with its charming turret.

Furniture has already been brought in, and the necessary sports equipment is being purchased. When the temperature outside is above zero, the autonomous heating system is used minimally. The complex includes 4 gyms: for games, wrestling, taekwondo, and weightlifting. It has a decent recovery center for athletes with a sauna and bathing facilities. "It's simply wonderful that athletes of all ages will be brought together," believes Igor Vladimirovich. He hopes that this place will become a true mecca for fans of strength-based martial arts.

Despite the high degree of readiness, the commissioning process is being delayed by some nuances. Firstly, technical supervision has not yet given the go-ahead for the facility's handover due to problems with the electrical networks. The ventilation system in the halls also requires further refinement.

But the complex will not be solely dedicated to wrestling. Fans of the number one sport also hope to find their "place in the sun" here. The site for the future football field has already been leveled. A spectator stand is also planned. For Vitebsk, which is experiencing a severe shortage of such stadiums, this is more than welcome.

It is worth noting that only the first phase of the new facility will be commissioned in the near future. In the long term, it is planned to build a 50-bed hotel, which will be able to host full-scale training camps for teams of all levels. Additionally, garages will be equipped, and at the rear of the building, there will be courts for basketball, tennis, mini-football, and a special field for growing turf. The construction of a swimming pool for people with disabilities is also not ruled out in the future.

Some skeptics are concerned about the complex's relative remoteness from the city center, but the director believes this concern is unfounded. Public transport runs regularly, and if necessary, additional shuttle buses could be introduced to make a slight detour, directly serving the complex. Moreover, as we recall, there is a project for the capital repair of Gagarin Street with the installation of trolleybus lines. However, these are all matters for the future. For now, the focus is on preparing for the grand ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of this health center.

Ales Byńkaŭ, "Vitebskiye Vesti"