The Sports Bureau (ID) underlined in a statement yesterday that the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai is not suitable for the setting-up of an ice-skating rink due to the dome’s structural design.
The statement also pointed out that Macau has no international-standard ice-skating rink because of which the government is now planning to build one.
Yesterday’s statement came after Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng told lawmakers during Friday’s Q&A session that the government was now planning to build a park on an area in central Taipa where a row of long-abandoned textile factory buildings has been demolished, as well as an international-standard ice-skating rink underneath the park.
The area planned for the park and underground ice-skating rink is located between the Nam San Garden residential estate and two idle plots for which the government will hold land auctions next month.
The area earmarked for the park and underground ice-skating rink, where the dilapidated factory buildings were demolished late last year, comprises two plots officially known as BT11 and BT12.
The two idle plots to be auctioned next month are located next to each other, officially known as BT8 and BT9a. Both are earmarked for residential projects.
The government initially planned to build a temporary tyre park on a large area comprising BT11, BT12, BT8, BT9a, as well as BT9, but decided last year to cancel the temporary tyre park project.
BT9 is also an idle plot, which is located between BT8 and BT9a and the Nova Taipa Garden residential estate. BT9 is now also earmarked for a residential project.
Yesterday’s statement said that the Sports Bureau has recently received the suggestion from some residents that the government set up an ice-skating rink in the East Asian Games Dome.
The East Asian Games Dome was built for the 4th East Asian Games, which was held from October 29 to November 6, 2005.
The statement noted that although a temporary ice-skating rink was set up in the East Asian Games Dome in the past, the construction of the dome was not designed for ice skating and other ice sports.
The statement said that after the Sports Bureau took over the dome’s management in 2008, it concluded that the setting-up of a permanent ice-skating rink there was not feasible because of the dome’s structural design.
In addition, the statement said, the operation of the temporary ice-skating rink there had caused damage to the dome and its equipment. Consequently, the statement said, the Sports Bureau had already decided some time ago that the setting-up of a permanent ice-skating rink in the dome was not feasible.
The statement pointed out that Macau has no international-standard ice-skating rink because of which local ice-sports athletes currently have to travel to neighbouring cities for training in preparation for competitions.
Macau currently has a non-international-standard ice-skating rink, at the private Future Bright Amusement Park, an indoor recreational facility located near Luís de Camões Garden.
The statement said that considering the increasing popularity of ice sports over recent years, the local government is now planning to build an international-standard ice-skating rink, with the aim of creating favourable conditions for promoting the development of ice sports in the city.
The statement also said that the planned ice-skating rink will provide residents with a new space for recreational activities.
Yesterday’s statement did not mention the government’s planned location for the international-standard ice-skating rink.
This file photo taken last year shows the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai. – Photo: Tony Wong
This photo taken last week shows a plot of idle land in Taipa part of which is planned for a park and an underground ice-skating rink. – Photo: Tony Wong
