Current Status of the Nueva Andalucía Sports Technification Center Construction
The construction of the Guadaiza sports center in La Campana, which is set to include a 400-meter athletics track and an Olympic swimming pool, has come to a halt. The project began two years ago, in February 2022, with Mayor Ángeles Muñoz stating that it would be ready by the summer of 2023. However, currently, there are no workers on site.
The Far-off Reality of the Nueva Andalucía Sports Technification Center
What was once announced as the “Nueva Andalucía Sports Technification Center”, located at the former Guadaiza sports center in La Campana, is far from becoming a reality. The facility has a long history of unfulfilled promises, and the day when athletes and swimmers can use it seems distant. The slow pace of construction is now compounded by the fact that work has stopped, as confirmed by Marbella24horas this Wednesday. The area is closed, with no workers present.
Unfulfilled Promises and Delays
On February 17, 2022, with construction underway, the mayor announced that both the athletics track and the Olympic pool would be ready by the “summer of 2023”. The goal was to host competitions that had been requested for 2022, even without the facilities being ready. The Spanish U18 Athletics Championship, scheduled for June 18 and 19, 2022, was granted to be held here. Also, on November 26, 2020, Marbella was awarded the Spanish Women’s Youth Water Polo Championship, set to take place in July 2022. Neither event took place in Marbella, but the mayor stated they would be rescheduled for 2023, once the facilities were completed.
Current State of the Construction Site
In January 2023, a year after the supposed start of construction, the area was a wasteland after the existing sports center, which included a football field, a swimming pool, and trees, was demolished. By January 2024, the new Sports Councilor reported that the project was still only 20% complete. Today, construction has stopped.
Budget and Future Plans
The first phase had a budget of 5.5 million euros, approved in May 2021, of which 500,000 euros were contributed by the Provincial Council. However, the total estimated cost, according to the project drawn up in January 2022, is 15,475,633 euros, three times more than what was available. As a result, the City Council has focused on building a short pool (200 meters) in the Arroyo Primero area, set to open this summer. For aquatic sports, the Serrano Lima pool is being remodeled, a project that is also progressing slowly. It started in June 2023 and was expected to take between 8 and 10 months.
