When the operation of the Jēkabpils multi-hall ice rink started, it was promised to organize figure skating training for students and to organize hockey training. The latter were also launched. We asked the leadership of the county council, how does the ice hall continue to work in the summer?
The executive director of Jēkabpils county council, Uldis Skreivers, says that the hall is also busy in the summer, although the occupancy could be higher. There are training sessions for the students of the Lavinas hockey school and four amateur teams are training. In July, there will be a 12-day training camp for the hockey club “Riga” and a 10-day camp for the hockey club “Baltie vilki”, as well as a five-day training camp for the OZO figure skating club in August. There will also be tournaments and friendly matches.
– Regarding figure skating, there are big problems with attracting coaches, but the employees of the hall are working on it and hope for cooperation with the OZO figure skating club, attracting their coaches to work in Jēkabpils. There are also curling practices and ice skating. The workload is there, but it could be higher, concludes Uldis Skreivers.
The chairman of the county council, Raivis Ragainis, adds that there was information from the hall about the intention to melt the ice during the summer. But the setting was that the work should continue even in the summer, because otherwise there is no point in hiring the ice rink and its employees. In addition, freezing the ice would cost around 7,000 euros. The manager of the sports center, Juris Bobrovs, is also involved, and the workload, although small, is there. It can already cover current expenses, which is already a plus.
– The problem is that athletes need a place to live when they go to training camps. There is a stadium hotel reconstruction project, but it was not possible to get financial support for it. Three and a half million for reconstruction – at the moment we do not see such a possibility. Second, you can build a new, modern hotel for that kind of money. Its price is not adequate at the moment. The project should be redone so that the cost is not so high. Maybe the old hotel could be renovated cheaper. But currently there is no fund support for such projects. In addition, there are many other objects – the people’s house, the gymnasium, and there are price increases everywhere. Therefore, we are not ready to invest three million in a hotel. For now, the existing hotels should be used – said Raivis Ragainis.
