Ministry of Youth and Sports Accelerates Transformation of Gabès Olympic Stadium
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to accelerate the transformation of the Gabès Olympic Stadium into a comprehensive national sports complex, capable of hosting continental competitions and national team matches. The goal is to make it a true sports hub for southern Tunisia.
According to an official statement, the project aims to integrate this stadium among the six major venues in the country, alongside Radès, El Menzah, Sousse, and Sfax, with the planned rehabilitation of the Boujemaa Kmiti stadium in Béja to follow.
The development plan includes the creation of modern infrastructure, comprising an annex field, a swimming pool, an elite sports training center, and tennis courts, in order to equip the region with a multi-purpose facility that meets international standards.
As part of the revival of suspended projects, the authorities have also decided to engage in direct negotiations to complete the covered municipal swimming pool, whose construction has been interrupted since 2017, despite a 60% completion rate. The regional center for sports medicine and science, which is almost complete, is also expected to be finalized soon.
Furthermore, studies have been ordered for the renovation of the lawn at the "Omar Daghmane" municipal stadium and the renovation of its enclosure. A covered hall for individual sports will also be built in the Chatt Essalem area to provide new infrastructure for young people in a region characterized by strong sports activity.
On the youth tourism front, the ministry has validated a program to expand the "Chala" camping and vacation center, which will increase its capacity to 100 beds, with connection to the sanitation network. The construction of the Zarat center will also be accelerated to support outdoor activities and nature sports, in line with the region's environmental specificities.
In total, the Gabès governorate currently has 46 projects related to youth and sports, including 12 under construction and 27 in the study phase. The authorities also plan to increase subsidies for sports associations, particularly the most modest ones, to help them cope with travel costs and operating expenses.
