- The south west of the city will have international level facilities for sports such as track cycling, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, artistic gymnastics and swimming, benefiting more than 1.7 million Bogota residents.
- To date, progress of 11.8% has been achieved in the High Performance Center and 11.6% in the velodrome, generating more than 260 direct jobs on site.
Bogotá DC, November 22, 2024.- In a tour with the Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, and the director of the District Institute of Recreation and Sports (IDRD), Daniel García Cañón, the progress of the two emblematic sports projects in the town of Kennedy was presented: the Center of High Performance and the Gibraltar velodrome. Both works represent a milestone in the capital’s sports infrastructure, transforming an old landfill into first-class venues.
The Gibraltar High Performance Center, which has already reached 11.85% progress, includes world-class facilities for sports such as judo, artistic gymnastics, swimming and taekwondo, benefiting more than 1.7 million people. This project, with a total budget of $158,906 million, has generated more than 113 direct jobs, promoting the social and economic development of the area. In addition, it has modern Olympic and semi-Olympic swimming pools that will be delivered in the second half of 2025.
On the other hand, the Gibraltar velodrome, designed for track cycling, presents an advance of 11.6%, exceeding the initial goals thanks to efficient inter-institutional management. This scenario seeks to certify its track under UCI standards in C1 and C2 categories, consolidating itself as an epicenter for national and international competitions, with a total investment of $140,429 million, a direct impact on 579,032 people and so far generating more than 150 jobs. directly.
Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán highlighted the positive impact of these works: “We are transforming spaces that in the past represented environmental and social problems, into engines of development and pride for Bogotá. These works are an example of the articulated work between district entities and the community.”
Daniel García Cañón, director of the IDRD, stressed the importance of citizen participation in both projects, with the creation of multiple committees that have made it possible to address concerns and guarantee a transparent and participatory execution. Likewise, he highlighted the virtues of the location for these scenarios that will also be part of a new park in the area: “The choice of Kennedy and Bosa as the headquarters for the High Performance Center and the Gibraltar Velodrome is no coincidence; It is an area that has historically produced the best cyclists and some of the most outstanding athletes in Bogotá. Champions are born here, and these scenarios are designed so that they continue to conquer new goals.”
These initiatives reflect Bogotá’s commitment to sport, recreation, physical activity and inclusion, laying the foundations for the strengthening of local talent and the projection of the capital’s athletes to top-level international stages.
IDRD COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY OFFICE – BULLETIN 302
