In the 1980s, during the Bolesławiec–Sanok Cities Tournament, a model of a sports and events hall in Bolesławiec was displayed, but everything remained a dream. Similarly to the Municipal Library building, the issue of a sports hall “escaped” all the city’s authorities into an indefinite future, mainly because of a lack of money. Let us add: a great deal of money. The city’s residents can only look enviously at Zgorzelec and Jelenia Góra, where, in addition to sporting events, large stage shows can be organized—and earn money in the process—especially in winter.
Bolesławiec nevertheless has, or may have, a chance to get its own hall, and that chance is more realistic today than ever. This opportunity is provided by the vacant, large building on Kościuszki Street, opposite “Ceramika Artystyczna,” which, after reconstruction and adaptation, could successfully fulfill its intended purpose. It is a municipal building. Sports activists may initially recoil and object: What kind of building is that? We need a “proper” sports hall, not some industrial hangar. All of that is true, except that a “proper” sports hall is a utopia. It would cost billions—many billions of złoty. In the case of the building on Kościuszki Street, the proposal is realistic, because, strictly speaking, training could begin there today. The unfinished building already exists; it is standing there. Adapting it for sporting purposes would require far less money than constructing a new hall (with plans and everything else needed beforehand), and the adaptation could be carried out gradually.
In the first stage, the most costly—but still “surmountable”—task would be replacing the roof while raising it at the same time. The hall could be adapted lengthwise or widthwise, and its dimensions allow for anything. In addition to a huge sports and events hall, it could contain stands, exercise rooms, changing rooms, and so on. Additional arguments include the possibility of connecting it to the heating system via the nearby “heating pipeline” and the possibility of creating a large car park on the opposite land. The issue of the busy traffic route could be resolved with an overhead footbridge. The opinions expressed here were confirmed by a “private,” impartial construction expert.
We will make a serious mistake if we fail to take advantage of this opportunity, because we should doubt that, in these difficult times, we will find several times more money to build a “proper” hall. Let us remember that we need a sports hall now, not in a dozen or more years—and even that cannot be guaranteed by anyone today.
Let us consider all the arguments for and against without emotion, but let us not reject too hastily this—who knows whether not the last—real chance to have our own sports and events facility. I appeal to the readers of “Głos Bolesławca,” Municipal Council members, architects and—above all—athletes and sports enthusiasts to engage in a broad discussion on this subject.
From the editorial office:
We will be happy to publish readers’ opinions on this subject.