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COSTA RICA |
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New
National Stadium To Have Natural Turf
Following months of doubt and uncertainty,
the new Estadio Nacional (national stadium)
under construction in San José will have a
natural turf. The announcement was made by
the viceministro de Deportes, Osvaldo
Pandolfo, dispelling rumours of the
installation of a synthetic playing surface.
"It wasn't an easy decision", said Pandolfo,
who explained that a decision was reached
after analyzing the pros and cons of both
types of surfaces.
Pandolfo added that sporting experts were
consulted, as well as directors of the
various sports organizations, media and
other experts, before reaching a decision.
The sports vice-minister said that the
decision for a natural turf will also mean a
savings of between us$400.000 and us$500.000
dollars, and if the turf is properly
maintained, it should have a longer life
than synthetic.
Pandolfo added that the best soccer players
in the world prefer the natural stuff,
proven by the fact that sports stadiums like
the Santiago Bernabéu en Madrid, Spain, and
the Azteca, in México, use real grass.
The stadium, donated and being built by the
government of China, is being built on the
site of the old national stadium on the
northwest corner of the Sabana Park in San
José.
Construction on the stadium began on March
12 of this year and is 50% complete,
according to the Chinese ambassador to Costa
Rica, Wang Xiao Yuan.
The stadium is scheduled to be inaugurated
in the first week of March 2011, missing the
hope of the Arias government to inaugurate
the stadium in May 2010 for the transfer of
power ceremony, when Oscar Arias hands over
the presidential powers to the president
elect.
Rodrigo Arias, the ministro de la
Presidencia and brother to Oscar said "I
accept that it is difficult to have the
stadium ready in time".
To inaugurate the stadium, both Chinese and
Costa Rican authorities are looking at the
possibility of a trinagular soccer game
between Costa Rican and China. |
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