PP PROMISE MORE SPORTS FACILITIES FOR PALMA

T HE Partido Popular, should it retain control of Palma City Council, plans to spend 60 million euros on public sports facilities for the city with each neighbourhood having its own sports centre The PP's candidate for Mayor, Catalina Cirer, accompanied by the party's presidential candidate Jaume Matas, unveiled the sports plan yesterday with Matas saying that the Playa de Palma can be transformed into one of the leading sports centres in the world, in particular for sailing and water sports. The project has the backing of Majorcan golf medalist Pepote Ballester who has lobbied the PP to help boost the Balearic water sports sector. Cirer explained that the 60 million euros will be spent on 20 sports centres including the construction of new public swimming pools, the expansion and improvement of existing football pitches, the creating of a sailing school in Portixol and the construction of skate parks on each of the city's five industrial estates. Cirer added that a new network of cycle lanes will also be built, linking all of the capital's green zones and parks.
Matas wants to see Palma hosting more international nautical events apart from sailing, but the primary aim is to secure that Palma hosts the sailing events for the Madrid 2012 Olympics, providing that is that the Spanish capital is successful with its bid and also hosts the America's Cup. The PP's presidential candidate also wants to see both the private and public sector involved in helping to fund sports schools and training centres for local sportsmen and women. “The Balearic Islands should be an international reference point for the yachting world,” Matas declared “and that is one of the targets the PP will work to achieve if we win the elections.” Both Matas and Cirer stressed the importance of sports for young people and the general good health of society.