ARCHIVED - Unfinished Cartagena sports complex placed on hold by new Mayor

The Palacio de Deportes in Cartagena still has numerous defects

Following the emergency removal of some of the metallic sheets covering the new but unopened Palacio de Deports in Cartagena earlier this week, it has now been announced that the new Mayor of the city, José López, is to commission a full audit into the way in which construction of the eye-catching building has been managed.

On Tuesday Sr López and Deputy Mayoress Ana Belén Castejón visited the sports complex in order to see for themselves the condition of the building, which a couple of months ago was pronounced complete by the previous local government. Unfortunately they reportedly found numerous “deficiencies” and variations from the plans originally approved, and in consequence Sr López is to seek approval at the next session of council for a full external audit to be carried out.

One of the intentions of this audit will be to compare the original plans with the final result of construction, and to find out why it was considered necessary to depart from the original design and fittings.

Among the most important failings and deficiencies noted by Sr López and Sra Castejón during their visit were the following:

• The lack of electricity supply, despite months of attempting to remedy the situation.
• The consequent impossibility of testing machinery such as swimming pool water filters, air conditioning, boilers, dehumidifiers, etc.
• The energy deficit of the building, which for example has no solar panels, and the high resulting maintenance costs.
• Lack of insulation of the swimming pool, which is separated from one of the adjacent areas by nothing more than a plastic panel, allowing chlorine vapour to spread throughout the building.
• The parquet floor in some areas is not apt for sports.
• Faulty surveying of the plot on which the main pavilion stands.
• Various water leaks.
• The above-mentioned danger of metal roof plates becoming detached.
• Insufficient emergency evacuation plan and the lack of emergency exits.
• Insufficient facilities for broadcasting sporting events.
• Rusted machinery and facilities.
• No security video-cameras.
• Insufficient first aid facilities.
• Only 10% of office furniture is in place.
• Inadequate access to the building.
• Unfinished exterior and surrounding areas.

In the light of all these shortcomings Sr López made it clear that the Palacio de Deportes is not currently ready to open to the general public, and that it will take a substantial amount of money to rectify the various problems. For the time being, he added, there are more important jobs to be undertaken, such as attending to the needs of outlying areas in the large municipality of Cartagena, and given the size of the Town Hall’s debt he is opposed to the idea of spending any more money on the project.

In other words, the Palacio de Deportes will not open in the foreseeable future, assuming Sr López has his way, since he also vowed not to allow the building to be used in its current condition. In the long term, he reassured members of the press, the intention is to bring it into operation, but for the moment his priorities lie elsewhere.

Originally the plan was to open the Palacio de Deportes in summer 2007 after the construction contract was awarded to Dragados and Emurtel for 13,279,500 euros. However, numerous delays and a lack of funding have continually set the project back, and eight years later the costs have now escalated to over 21 million euros, while the building remains unopened.

Occupying an area of 21,000 square metres, approximately half of which is devoted to sporting facilities, the sports complex contains a central hall for major events, a swimming pool, and a secondary hall with space for 5,000 spectators. The original plans also included a cafeteria, weights rooms, saunas, spa facilities and a multi-sports area.

Photographer: José Albaladejo