Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart, who participated in the ceremonial opening of the renovated Tallinn athletics hall on Tuesday, highlighted that the renovation work was the city’s largest investment in sports infrastructure at 14 million euros.
After a thorough renovation, the conditions for both training and organizing competitions in several different sports have improved significantly in Tallinn’s athletics hall. In addition to athletics, it is possible to organize competitions in judo, wrestling, karate, fencing, shooting, weightlifting and other sports.
The name of the sports center, which used to be called Tallinn Sports Hall, was brought into line with its main function after getting a new look and content – now the complex is called Tallinn Athletics Hall.
According to Kõvart, the renovation of the athletics hall is the biggest investment made in Tallinn in recent years to improve sports conditions. “This is an important milestone also in view of 2025, when Tallinn will hold the title of European sports capital. The complex has been the home hall of many of our top athletes and various major competitions have been hosted here. Modern and high-quality training conditions form the foundation for our future athletes preparing for the Olympic start, therefore the renovation of the hall was essential,” said the mayor.
Jüri Dorbek, the director of the Tallinn Sports Hall, said that the building, which was completed in 1996, has been very popular among users over the years. “The biggest concerns of the old building were heat retention, fully amortized track cover and lighting. During the renovation and extension of the sports hall, the building became more energy efficient, a new training area was added and functionality was improved. Hall’s room program has been completely redesigned. For example, the main entrance is now at the end of Herne Street, where it was originally planned,” explained Dorbek.
In the renovated athletics hall, the priority is to practice athletics, from top-level performance athletes to recreational and health athletes. The new building will continue to have a 200-meter-long tartan-covered running oval with four lanes, an indoor throwing area for discus throwers and javelin throwers, a separate training area for the smallest athletics training groups, a gym and spectator stand areas that can be used as training places outside of competitions.
In addition to athletes, basketball players, volleyball players and representatives of many other sports can also use the hall for general physical training.
AS Resand designed the reconstruction and extension of the building. The main construction contractor was Nordlin Ehitus OÜ. The total cost of the renovation works was 14 million euros.