President Ilham Aliyev inaugurates Ecological Park Complex, stadium, sports palace in Ganja PHOTO

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited the construction site of the Ecological Park Complex in the city of Ganja.

Head of Ganja City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov briefed the head of state about the progress of the ongoing work, Azertag reports.

Construction of the Ecological Park Complex, the first of its kind in the Western region, along with landscaping work around it commenced in December 2021. Situated on the right bank of the Ganjachay River, the complex spans an area of 11 hectares.

The complex, distinguished for its uniqueness, is designed to provide all necessary amenities for individuals to spend their leisure time comfortably. It includes a two-story greenhouse building covering an area of 1285 square meters.

Within the Ecological Park Complex, plans are underway to establish entertainment centers, sports facilities, and catering establishments.

The final completion works are currently underway in the complex.

Continuing his visit to the second-largest city of Azerbaijan, President Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the Ganja City Stadium.

The head of state was briefed about the proposed facilities to be developed within the stadium.

The Ganja City Stadium, originally built between 1959-1963 and operational since 1964, faced deterioration of spectator stands in recent years, rendering it partially unusable for technical reasons. However, auxiliary training grounds and a football academy building were constructed on the stadium grounds.

As per a presidential order issued on October 6, 2023, an initial allocation of one million manats from the President's reserve fund was made for the design and implementation of the Ganja City Stadium's reconstruction project. Design work for the stadium has already been completed.

The reconstruction project envisions expanding the stadium's area to 10 hectares, with a spectator capacity of 15,464 in accordance with UEFA's 4th category standards. The stadium will feature seating areas for VVIP, VIP, SKY-boxes, media representatives, and physically challenged spectators, along with dressing rooms for players, conference hall as well as rooms for medical, technical staff, referees, and other necessary areas.

In addition, ticket offices, various public catering establishments, above-ground parking lots, and turnstiles will be created within the stadium premises.

President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the Ganja City Stadium.

Moreover, the president attended the inauguration of the Ganja Sports Palace.

Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports, informed the head of state about the conditions created in the sports palace.

Construction of the Ganja Sports Palace began in June 2018 and was completed in March 2024.

Covering an area of nearly 40,000 square meters, the palace boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure. The main hall is designed to host basketball, volleyball, handball, mini-football, and athletics events. It features 2,200 fixed seats, 850 mobile seats, and 20 spaces for spectators with physical disabilities.

The palace includes a diving pool built to International Diving Federation standards, measuring 50 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and 3 meters in depth. It can accommodate over 1400 spectators during diving competitions.

Additionally, the small hall of the sports palace can be divided into sections to host weightlifting, wrestling, judo, and boxing, along with rooms for various sports activities and training.

Other amenities in the Ganja Sports Palace include a shooting range compliant with International Shooting Sport Federation standards, yoga and fitness rooms, a SPA centre, conference halls, a restaurant, a children's room, and markets.

The palace also features an eighty-room hotel capable of accommodating 160 athletes.

As part of his trip, the head of state also visited and laid flowers at a statue of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the centre of the city of Ganja.