The construction of the Pocinho dam, along the course of the Douro river, has created one of the best water plans in the world for rowing and canoeing. This is a reality confirmed by the various national and international athletes of Olympic level who have been looking for this place for training in recent years.
Inaugurated on July 6 last year by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic, the High Performance Center (CAR) of Pocinho has now complement Vila Nova de Foz Côa as the destination of choice for many high-level athletes.
The white line that winds the Douro Vinhateiro slopes can house up to 180 athletes in top facilities for the internships, but this building is also distinguished by the "concerns of integrating accessibility and mobility for all, as well as environmental sustainability". emphasizes Gustavo Duarte, Mayor of Foz Côa.
The equipment cost eight million euros, and according to Gustavo Duarte, this is one of the "largest investments of the last years in the county", revealed to VivaDouro.
The construction of the Pocinho CAR had financial contributions from the POVT - Operational Program for Territorial Enhancement of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN) and the Portuguese Institute of Sport (IDP).
Throughout 8,000 m2, the building is structured in three distinct zones: social area, accommodation and training.
The social area is located in the highest part of the building, with large glass windows that invite you to look at the World Heritage landscape. This area is composed of a refectory, bar, social room, library and auditorium.
Photo showing a staircase with access conditions for people with reduced mobility
The accommodation area recalls the terraces of the Douro, which guide the landscape of the world's oldest Demarcated region. With 85 rooms, some of them double and two suites, all of them are distinguished by the simplistic decoration and the use of natural light, characteristic common to practically the whole building.
The training zone, located in the lower part consists of gymnasium, swimming pool support, outdoor playground, sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, changing rooms, medical offices and coaches.
According to Gustavo Duarte, one of the differences between this and other High Income Centers is that "everything is concentrated in the same place", from the accommodation to the training area, also passing through spaces dedicated to leisure. Internships cost € 50 per day per athlete.
José Sousa, National Technician of the Portuguese Canoeing Federation, who was recently in training at Pocinho's CAR, reveals that the team "was fascinated the very first day", since "this Center has everything inside the same building and this is half way to be exceptional, "he told VivaDouro.
Indoor Swimming Pool
In addition, José Sousa stresses that the "building completes very well the water conditions of the Pocinho Dam. We have a very good thing here that is space, we can go upstream without any problem, "he added.
Emanuel Silva, athlete of the Portuguese Canoeing Federation, also highlights the "excellent housing and food conditions" offered at the Pocinho CAR.
"I've traveled a lot of places and I've never seen a CAR with this caliber. I think I can say that it is the best I know worldwide, given my experience in kayaking, this is really at the top, "he told VivaDouro.
"If we have the conditions in Portugal to do a good job we have to stay inside and take advantage of it to make a good preparation," said the athlete who showed willingness to return to the CAR of Pocinho.
Located in a territory that is the only county with two world heritage sites - Douro Vineyards and Rock Engravings - Gustavo Duarte hopes that this infrastructure "will contribute to the development of the county and bring people to Foz Côa."
"In bringing the athletes we are also bringing people to the county who can later return and visit with families," says the mayor who intends in the future to bet on visits to wine estates for the occupants of the CAR.
Regarding the occupation rate, Gustavo Duarte considers that "it is still early to do these accounts", since the structure was inaugurated a little more than six months ago. However, it has hosted several athletes both nationally and internationally, notably the Olympic selection of Estonia and Switzerland.
The City Council is currently focusing on the strategy to promote CAR, as a way of making the infrastructure known "around the world".
Architecture has earned him several national and international awards
Allied to the conditions that it presents for the practice of training at a sporting level, the Pocinho CAR building is distinguished by its architecture, which is not overlooked inside and outside doors.
Designed by the architect Álvaro Fernandes Andrade, the whole building was designed with "a great sensitivity" and with architectural options that minimized its impact on the landscape in which it is inserted, the Douro Valley, a World Heritage Site.
Thus, the CAR is a point of attraction for international sportsmen, but also an architectural reference, a distinction that has earned him several awards and honors nationally and internationally.
According to Gustavo Duarte, the Pocinho CAR building is soon to compete for the Douro Architecture Prize, an award that has already been won by the Côa Museum, also located in Vila Nova de Foz Côa.
Since it is an appealing building, Gustavo Duarte also intends to bet on the accomplishment of several events in the CAR of Pocinho.
Source: Viva Douro