CABEI to finance sports infrastructure works to provide Costa Rican athletes with improved opportunities
CABEI promotes cultural and social projects that foster competitiveness, integration, social cohesion and recreation as elements for integrated territorial development.
San José, May 17, 2017. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and the Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (ICODER) signed a US$45 million loan contract to finance the execution of the Program, “Modernization and Rehabilitation of Sports Infrastructure in Costa Rica (PROMORID).”
The program involves the construction, rehabilitation, equipment and startup of two important sports facilities in Costa Rica: the María del Milagro París Aquatic Center and the Parque de La Paz Sports Complex; both declared projects of public and national interest by means of decree No. 39774-MP-MD (published in the official journal on July 15, 2016).
The Maria del Milagro Paris Aquatic Center will be composed of seven tempered indoor swimming pools for the practice of such sports as water polo, synchronized swimming and diving. Currently, the practice of these sports in the country is incipient, and there is a lack of facilities for proper teaching and training. In addition, the Center will provide better conditions for the practice of swimming in its different styles, teaching children and the elderly, physical therapy and carrying out rescue and diving exercises.
The Parque de La Paz Sports Complex will be composed of 7 gyms sharing common areas, including gyms for individual contact sports such as fencing, judo, taekwondo and karate, as well as for collective sports such as indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball.
In this regard, CABEI Director for Costa Rica, Dr. Alberto Cortés Ramos, stated that, “The program aims to improve the country’s deteriorating sports infrastructure by providing better attention and services to children, young people, neighbors, the elderly and athletes.
He also added that, "In addition to the construction of adequate facilities for the training and competition of different sports in compliance with international standards, the program promotes the development of healthy lifestyles and social inclusion in the different population sectors”.
PROMORID is executed in the framework of the Human Development and Social Infrastructure axis of the CABEI 2015-2019 Institutional Strategy: “Integrating Sustainable Development and Competitiveness” and is part of the goals of the 2015-2018 Alberto Cañas Escalante National Development Plan, specifically the goal of developing the infrastructure required to meet the needs of the Costa Rican population with regard to health, sports and recreation.
Likewise, the program will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs), specifically SDG No. 1: "End poverty in all its forms throughout the world;" SDG No. 3: "Ensure a healthy life and promote wellbeing for all at all ages;" and SDG8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all."
