For quite a while, an inflatable sports hall has been on the wish list of the sports center and the Student Union, who took care of the preparations. Last week, the Executive Board accepted the new covering, although the purchase must stay within certain financial constraints. Ruben Visser, board member of the Student Union, does not yet exactly know when the inflatable hall will be installed. `We're hoping to get it done before next winter.' The cover is supposed to lighten the load on the accommodation in the sports center. Jan-Willem Hidskes, manager of the sports center, has previously indicated that the capacity is maximally utilized. During the winter months, the inflatable hall will house not only tennis, but also korfball, indoor football and baseball, leaving room in the sports center for other activities. The inflatable hall will be temporarily stored in March.
The artificial grass field in front of the sports center (already there for over fifteen years) will be replaced by a new type of turf. Visser: `It's an upgrade that has many advantages, especially for soccer players. The new foundation will be rubber-sewn instead of sand, and that's a much better basis for playing soccer. It's obviously very good for a university to use the latest technologies in the field.' Jan-Willem Hidskes: `We're in contact with the UT's Sports & Leisure Institute and Ten Cate Thiolon. It's not unlikely that we'll be conducting experiments on that field with its superior fibers.'
But what about the two other facilities that were on the wish list last year: a new athletics track and squash courts? Visser: `As Student Union, we first want to develop a vision on sports and culture before we develop other expansions or replacements. That also applies to the dirt track. There are other competition athletics tracks in the area. We want to coordinate our track with existing facilities.' Visser explains that the squash courts are less urgent because of the cooperation with Saxion Hogescholen, since UT students can now use their facilities. `Not that we've discarded the idea, but the same applies here: we want to develop a vision first.'
As far as the expansion of sports facilities is concerned: the existing arrangement only covered athletes who were already being subsidized by NOC/NSF*; Visser elaborates. `This means that the UT fund was hardly ever used. In the new situation, rising sportsmen can also use the facilities. Obviously, certain criteria have been relaxed. The athletic committee assesses the applications.' Hidskes is unable to estimate how many athletes will apply. `I wouldn't know. They have to practice for at least twenty hours a week. And by practice we mean practice, not sitting at the bar in the canteen!'
