Limassol Municipality Press Release on Fytidio Sports Centre - GSO

Due to the fact that many of our fellow citizens are genuinely concerned about the delay in the reopening of the Fytidio Sports Centre – GSO, the Limassol Municipality would like to update the public on the following:

1.     Since the beginning of 2017, when the new Municipal Authority took office, the Limassol Municipality contacted the CSO and the CUT to conclude an agreement on the reopening of the GSO. In particular, the Limassol Municipality suggested the following:  

1.1.          The Municipality would undertake the management of the Fytidio – GSO on the basis of an agreement between the Municipality and the CSO.

1.2.         The Municipality and the CUT would sign an agreement on the use of the sports infrastructures and facilities of the Fytidio – GSO by the CUT.

1.3.         A provision in both agreements would exempt both entities from paying rent.

1.4.         The CUT would proceed with improvement works in relation to the sports infrastructures and facilities of the centre. The CUT would develop sports programs for its students, which would also be used by the Municipality’s citizens, in hours and days to be agreed.

1.5.         The Municipality would proceed to the construction of a Sports Museum in the centre’s area.

1.6.         The operating and maintenance costs of the centre would be shared between the Municipality and the CUT, depending on the use of the centre by each party.

2.    Following a series of contacts between the Municipality, the CSO and the CUT, the improvement works and the associated costs that would be undertaken by the CUT, as well as the 3 possible areas for the positioning of the Sports Museum were agreed.

3.    In July 2017 the Limassol Municipality drafted preliminary texts for the two agreements and sent them to the CSO and the CUT for commenting.

4.    Following consultations between the three parties, the Municipality drew up the two final drafts of the agreement. The drafts were approved by the Municipal Council on 1/11/2017 and were sent to the CSO and the CUT for final remarks.

5.    Once all the parties’ comments were incorporated, the Municipality prepared in July 2018 the final drafts of the two agreements. The Municipality and the CSO approved the agreements and the CUT’s final decision was awaited.  

6.    The CUT, before proceeding to approve the agreements, requested the opinion of the Audit Office. The Audit Office sent its comments on 13/12/2018.

7.    The Audit Office’s observations were incorporated into new agreements drafts to be approved by the three parties.

8.    On 5 June 2019, the Limassol Municipality convened a three-party meeting at the highest level to make final decisions. At the meeting, the CUT raised 2 new questions:

8.1.         The signing of a tripartite agreement between the Municipality, the CSO and the CUT, instead of one agreement between the Municipality and the CSO and one agreement between the Municipality and the CUT, which was accepted by the Municipality and the CUT.

8.2.        A request was submitted to the Ministry of Finance to cover the costs of the improvement works for the sports infrastructures and facilities. The postponement of the final decision was requested in order to consult with the Minister of Finance.

9.    After a one-month period, the Limassol Municipality has convened a new meeting between the three parties to submit the final draft for approval.