Ethiopia has been constructing various modern stadiums at different states including the first phase completion national stadium (Adey Abeba) that its construction is taking place in Addis Ababa. Stadiums such as Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Mekelle, and among others are waiting to get recognition of FIFA and CAF to host international games.
Ethiopia has given due emphasis for the construction of recreational sport centers. Currently, the country is undertaking the construction of several stadiums and sport recreational centers such as huge stadiums, gymnasiums and swimming pools among others.
Before 2011, the number of country’s sport recreational centers were 26, 281. It was planned to construct 20, 497 recreational sport centers from 2011 to 2015. The performance is appreciable with the accomplishment of 96.6 percent of the plan by constructing 19, 807 centers.
In principle of Olympic and All Africa Games, to engage all communities in sporting activates, the country has designed national sport policy in1998 to enable nations, nationalities and people of Ethiopia to share cultural and other experiences each other meeting in one forum.
States have constructed and are constructing medium level stadiums as well as recreational sport centers to enable to host celebration of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (NNPD) and other similar occasions or events. These are the major causes for the construction of stadiums at various states of the country as they have multiple roles to strengthen people to people ties.
All Ethiopia Games and Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day, two faces of in a coin have brought about gigantic infrastructural development in the country. Infrastructure development is a cause to host various continental and international competitions or games.
Infrastructure and stadium construction development also enables the states and city administrations to host the competition of All Ethiopia Games conducted in two years interval. In this regard, States’ readiness to prepare competitions and fulfill infrastructure is an example.
Moreover, the sector created thousands of job opportunities and mobilizing billions of Birr. In addition to building the capacity of local contractors, it also enhances the sector’s knowledge transfer. Gambela, Afar, Benishangul- Gumuz, and Harari stadiums are among these which began to be constructed aiming to celebrate Nations, Nationalities and People’s Day. The Ethiopian Herald wants to assess the stadiums construction level, completion and their other current status.
Gambela National Stadium
Among the fruits of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day are stadiums constructed and under construction in regional states. One of these is Gambela National Stadium which was constructed to accommodate the NNPD hosted by Gambela state. The construction of the stadium was started on 20 February, 2015 planned to be accomplished within two years by 2017.
The total area it covers is 5.9 hectare of land with the capacity to accommodate 35,000 up to 40,000 seated viewers. The construction is carried out by Afro Tsion Construction via contract agreement made with the owner, Gambela Youth and Sport Bureau and the consultant is MH Engineering.
The construction was underway in two phases with the total budget of 648, 776, 590 Birr. In these phases; construction of running track, basketball, volleyball and handball fields; viewers’ seats, roof, swimming pool and structure of the stadium is underway.
The stadium has five gates symbolizing the five nations and nationalities residing in the emerging region. The stadium’s construction has reached 49 percent but the accomplishment is not progressing as it is expected.
Construction of the inner parts of the stadium that includes different training areas is underway by the region’s cultural materials. The region has allocated 2.5 million Birr to finalize these training areas, on 12 hectare of land.
Ahmed Nassir Memorial Stadium
This stadium is found in the region of Benishangul-Gumuz and covers 14 hectare of land. The construction of the stadium was started on 31 February, 2014 and expected to be finalized in October of 2019 fiscal year.
The stadium has a capacity to accommodate 30,000 viewers in chair and its construction is classified in to three phases. The budget is fully allocated by the country’s government. To realizing this, three different budgets were approved. For the first phase, 67 million Birr, and second phase 172million Birr and for the third phase, 223million Birr allocated. The stadium’s building has consumed 340 million Birr until now and 50 percent of construction is accomplished.
The stadium’s building has eight entrances. Midroc Construction is the contractor while MH Engineering is the consultant. However, the construction underway by the ownership of the region’s Youth and Sport Bureau is not as fast as expected.
In line with this, sport federation has approved Wonbera district in the region to establish youth center on the total area of 12 hectare of land. The main target of this center is building athletics village in the birth place of Almaze Ayana, Olympic and World Champion, where she has promised to set foundation. However, its progress is not known.
Abadir Stadium: Harar
This stadium is located in Hareri regional state and its construction was started in April 2016 expected to be accomplished in October 2017 mainly the structural works. According to sources, 360 million Birr was allocated in 2018 in order to accelerate the building.
The structural work has reached 65 percent with the financial expenditure performance of 33 percent. The stadium was planned to be completed by 1.8 billion Birr, but it has taken 600 million Birr until now.
As part of Abader, it is planned to establish training center in the compound on the land provided by the state. Afro Tsion Construction is undertaking the construction work while Tirat Shegeze is carrying out the consulting.
On the other side, modern standardized gymnasium built in Harar town is completed. However, its cost is not known yet according to data from Federal Sport Commission. In addition to this, the region has built modern swimming pool.
Semera Stadium: Afar
This stadium is located in Afar regional state and its construction was started on 26 July, 2018 expected to be accomplished in July 2020. This stadium that covers 17 hectare of land has the capacity of holding 30,000 viewers and budgeted close to one billion Birr.
Currently, the structural work is fully completed and the infrastructure development is underway. The progress of the stadium has reached 40 percent which is appreciable especially as it is started recently. Afro Tsion Construction has signed the contract agreement of the construction whereas the consulting work is undertaken by MH Engineering.
All in all, construction of stadiums and other infrastructure strengthens ties between nations and nationalities apart from their economic benefit for the states.
The Ethiopian Herald December17, 2019
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN AND MESERET BEHAILU
