Renowned swimming pool in Athens to suspend operation
Greek sport has suffered another blow with the news that the Zappeion Swimming Centre in Athens is set to suspend operations because there are no funds to pay for heating.
The center, which is set in a historic central city location beside the Temple of Zeus and the marble Panathenaic Stadium, serves as a major training centre for Greece’s elite swimming and water polo athletes.
A Greek Olympic Committee (HOC) spokesman told Reuters that the pool would be closed as early as next week because there were no funds to pay for heating oil.
“The facility is one of the most symbolic and renowned training centres given its location, but there is little we can do at the moment,» he said.
Last week the HOC said several federations would have to close down in January if budget plans were not revised.
Greece is also not taking part in the European short-course swimming championships in France this week for the first time in 16 years because of financial problems.
[Reuters]
