The Prime Minister regretted that the National Stadium, the “jewel in the crown” of the Jamor sports complex, has been neglected for decades, a scenario that seeks to contradict the cooperation protocol for the animation and rehabilitation of the fence, signed this Friday.
António Costa warned that the stadium, inaugurated on June 10, 1944 and culminating in the annual Portuguese Cup final, “is a remarkable piece of architecture”, but should not be limited to an “archaeological site”, at the ceremony, held in the presidential stand.
“In the Jamor sports complex as a whole, there have been several investments over these decades (…), but there was equipment, oddly enough the one that seems to be the jewel in the crown of this complex, which for several reasons , was not accompanied by revitalization and modernization,” he stressed.
To establish the principles and conditions for the rehabilitation of the National Stadium, a protocol was signed, in which the three federations using the site (athletics, football and rugby), the Municipality of Oeiras (CMO), the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) and the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC).
“Unfortunately, this stadium is no longer suitable for certain international events.
The Prime Minister illustrated with the “huge challenge” that represents every year the organization of the final of the Portuguese Cup, both for men and women, to “find at least adequate conditions” for its realization, from the outset, at the security level .
“All together we will be able to make this National Stadium what it deserves to celebrate its 80th anniversary, a contemporary space, adapted to current realities and allowing to take the stage in complete safety. become of the most relevant sporting events.” events,” he said.
António Costa recalled the intervention carried out in the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, which was “preserved in all its heritage”: “If it is now possible to do it in Ajuda, how could it not be done in the Estádio Nacional do Jamor? it will be possible”, he assured.
The president of the CMO, Isaltino Morais, also used the phrase “jewel in the crown” to describe the National Stadium, emphasizing the “significant step” towards rehabilitation that the signing of the protocol represents , whose resulting proposals will be evaluated by the IPDJ and the DGPC, organizations represented by the presidents, Vítor Pataco and João Carlos dos Santos, respectively.
Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ana Catarina Mendes defended that the ceremony held this Friday in the presidential gallery is “a step in the deep race to support sport”, a race that, she expected, “has many obstacles” will encounter.
In addition to António Costa, Ana Catarina Mendes, Isaltino Morais, Vítor Pataco and João Carlos dos Santos, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, João Paulo Correia, and the presidents of the Portuguese athletics federations (Jorge Vieira), football (Fernando Gomes) and rugby (Carlos Amado da Silva).
Source: DN
