Corfu, December 23 – In a significant step towards the realization of the long-awaited open swimming pool project at the NAOK facilities, a broad meeting held yesterday, December 22, 2025, under the chairmanship of Mayor Stefanos Poulimenos, concluded with unanimous support for the chosen location. The gathering, which took place in the Municipal Art Gallery hall, brought together representatives from all involved bodies, services, and municipal factions, forming a united front to advance the project.
Catalyst for Progress: Land Concession and Ownership
A crucial factor in this development was the recent concession of the city’s coastal front to the Municipality, coupled with the announced imminent transfer of the NAOK facilities directly from the state to the historic naval sports club. This ownership clarification is a fundamental prerequisite for the completion of the open swimming pool study, which has been assigned to DEPAN (Network of Greek Cities for Development) since 2021.
Key Participants in the Meeting
The meeting saw the participation of several key figures and organizations:
- Representatives of DEPAN, led by Managing Director Vassilis Koutsiouris.
- Deputy Mayors Andreas Kardonis (Technical Services) and Thomas Vlassis (Urban Planning, Spatial Planning, and Environment).
- A three-member delegation from NAOK, led by its president Giorgos Dimoulis.
- Maria Armeniakou, Head of the Land Registry Office in Corfu.
- Angeliki Roditi (Archaeologist) and Angeliki Tseremegli (Architect) from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu.
- Municipal councilors Nikos Kalogeros (major opposition faction), Giannis Borbotis (head of “Popular Rally”), and Takis Metallinos (head of the “We Change Course” faction).
Unchanged Location Choice Amidst Challenges
During the discussions, the possibility of changing the project’s location was raised, primarily due to the burden of multiple, time-consuming, and demanding administrative procedures that could affect the adherence to the scheduled implementation deadline of December 31, 2028. However, after extensive and fruitful discussions conducted in an excellent atmosphere, this option was ultimately ruled out. A commonly accepted position emerged, based on the clearly expressed will of the local community’s representation: the project’s existing location at the NAOK facilities will be supported by all sides.
All involved parties committed to making every possible effort at political, administrative, and technical levels to overcome obstacles and ensure the smooth completion of the ongoing study and the dynamic pursuit of the project’s implementation.
Project Inclusion in “Antonis Tritsis” Program
It is recalled that the official inclusion of the project in the “Antonis Tritsis” program was made by a decision of the then Minister of Interior, Stelios Petsas, on January 12, 2022. This inclusion pertained to two sports facilities:
- The construction of an Indoor Training Center in Alykes Potamou, a project that is already in an advanced stage of construction.
- The study and construction of an Open Swimming Pool at NAOK.
A substantiated proposal from DEPAN is now expected shortly, followed by collaboration with the Municipality and the Ministry of Interior to manage and support the decision made.
Source: corfutvnews.gr
