Palma to have a world class velodrome by end of 2006

by Staff Reporter
THE new velodrome which will be built in the Sant Ferran sports complex to house the World Indoor Cycling championship of 2007 will cost 46.4 million euros and have a capacity of 4'500 spectators, it was revealed yesterday. Balearic leader Jaume Matas said that it will be financed by the Balearic government and the Palma city council and built on land ceded by the Council of Majorca. It has been designed by German architect Ralf Schuermann. José Luis Ballester, the Balearic director general of sports, said that the velodrome can be adapted and its capacity extended to 7'800 spectators so that it can be used for the European basketball games in 2007 (Palma is one of the hosts, along with Madrid, Alicante and Granada). The velodrome will be built on an area of 20'000 square metres. The cycle track will be 250 metres, and the roof can be rolled back, which will make it one of the most outstanding buildings in Palma. In addition to the velodrome, the sports complex will be completely refurbished with the construction of an underground car park for 350 vehicles, an eight lane athletics track, a rugby stadium with stands for 1'000 spectators, tennis, padel and handball courts, an archery range and a hockey pitch with grass. Work will be carried out in four stages and should be finished between November and December 2006, Ballester said.