Revival of Korac's yard in Palilula - New sports center at the corner of Zdravka Celara Street and Preradoviceva Street in Belgrade

(the site of future Radivoj Korac Sports Center)

The name of the Serbian basketball legend Radivoj Korac is borne by streets in eight cities in our country and the national basketball cup of Serbia. A movie about this athlete, popularly called Zucko, was released last year, while a commemorative plaque and an open corner have recently been unveiled at the corner of Knez Mihajlova Street and Obilicev Venac Street to honor the legendary player. However, a real "endowment" in the city where this basketball ace grew up will be a 1,500-square-meter sports center, which will be built on the site of former yard in Palilula where Korac took his first basketball steps more than 50 years ago.

Radivoj Korac Sports Center will be erected at the corner of streets Zdravka Celara and Preradoviceva. As eKapija learns, the Belgrade borough of Palilula intends to transform the existing building in that location whose construction commenced more than 20 years ago into Radivoj Korac Sports Center.

- It is true. Construction of the existing building started in the 1990s, and we plan to finish it during the next year – Igor Jojkic, member of the Council of the city borough of Palilula, confirmed to eKapija.

- It is a facility that was conceived as a sports-residential-commercial complex. An agreement to build a sports center on the site of the outdoor basketball court of Beograd Youth Basketball Club (OKK Beograd), with all other commercial and housing facilities, was signed in 1992, but it is due to the unconscientiousness of co-investors and contractors that only rough construction works and roof have been completed to date. In the meantime, bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against investors. In order to protect the interests of OKK Beograd, which owns a part of the land lot, and the borough of Palilula, owner of the other part of the lot, it was decided that the borough should buy the sports center and prevent its further deterioration, possible alienation and the change of purpose.

The borough of Palilula has acquired only the part of the complex that was supposed to feature sports facilities. Palilula bought it from the Board of Bankruptcy Directors for RSD 20 million to provide its inhabitants with a space where sports and recreational events can be organized.

When asked if the borough had some plans for other facilities, Jojkic said that the intention was to adapt all parts of that complex to serve the primary purpose that was the reason why the construction had started in the first place.

First rehabilitation, then equipping

eKapija's interlocutor explained that the existing facility of sports center had been brought to the phase of rough construction works, adding that it was necessary to first rehabilitate the building due to a 20-year break in construction and then complete its equipping.

For that reason, the borough invited bids for architectural and construction works in late July. These works are expected to kick off in September 2012. They will be performed according to the initial project.

- The interior of the sports center will be adapted to the purpose (locker rooms, showers, gallery, etc.), whereas the exterior will keep its projected dimensions.

According to Jojkic, the first phase of construction and architectural works should be finished by the year's end, after which the work on the interior and equipping with necessary requisites will kick off.

- Our wish is to make it possible for professional and recreational athletes to do their first activities at the new sports facility in Palilula until the end of the next year.

The new sports center in Belgrade will span 1,500 square meters, while its stands will be big enough to hold 700 spectators.

In order for professional and recreational athletes to get an adequate space for training and recreation as early as next year, the borough of Palilula will invest RSD 40 million in the construction of this sports center.

Support from Tasmajdan Sports Center

When asked whether Radivoj Korac Sports Center would maybe become a part of Tasmajdan Sports Center, Jojkic replied that there were no such plans at the moment, but he added that the support and experience of the latter would be of great use once the former was completed and put in operation.

I.B.