The sports club “Dinamo” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) will offer better conditions for swimming enthusiasts and performance athletes. The facility was renovated and equipped thanks to funds offered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The investment amounts to US$1.95 million, which includes a contribution of US$100,000 of UNDP. The facility was repaired for the first time in 45 years after it was commissioned.

"The opening of the pools was long awaited, both by the MIA employees and the performance athletes, as well as by the citizens. We are glad that starting today we can offer such services to swimmers. In this way, we contribute to the physical training and health of MAI employees, but also of all swimmers," stated Serghei Diaconu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“The inauguration of the Dinamo swimming centre is a great example of UNDP’s and MIA’s multidimensional collaboration, which spans across many topics: from enhancing human security, to disaster risk reduction, digitalisation of home affairs or developing an accountable, efficient and professional law enforcement system,” said Andrea Cuzyova, Deputy Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

Two modern pools with filtration and water treatment systems, well-equipped fitting rooms, a gym hall, administrative offices, bathrooms – this is what the “Dinamo” swimming centre now looks like. The entire swimming centre has been rebuilt, with a total area of over 1,400 m2. The adjacent area of more than 3,000 m2 has also been redesigned.

Sustainable technologies were used to modernise the Dinamo swimming centre, such as cladding the pool with laminated stainless steel plates and installing high-performance water treatment systems. Modern systems and equipment have also been installed to manage the centre's activities, including automated systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning etc. The technical staff of the swimming centre was trained to properly operate the installed systems.

These investments will enable a sustainable operation of the swimming centre. After the upgrading of the swimming centre, the number of beneficiaries will increase substantially, estimated at over 12 thousand people per year.

All existing facilities are also accessible for people with disabilities. There is tactile paving installed for the visually impaired, for example. Wheelchair users are provided with access ramps and adapted toilets.

One of the two pools – 25 meters long and 14 meters wide – has six lanes for swimmers. The design of the pool meets the requirements of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), which will allow local sports competitions to be organised.

Prior to the capital repair works, about 800 police officers used to train at “Dinamo” every month. At the same time, around two thousand people – adults and children – used to buy annual swimming passes. All the infrastructure was obsolete. The water filtration system, lighting, and water and sewage networks had never been changed. Technical malfunctions were commonplace, resulting in training sessions often being cancelled and enormous water losses and maintenance costs for the outdated infrastructure.

The capital repair of the “Dinamo” swimming centre was carried out in the framework of the project “Strengthening capacities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subdivisions for the effective implementation of the sector reform agenda”. The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the enhancement of the operational and functional framework of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the efficient, transparent, and inclusive implementation of the sector reform agenda in the areas of public order, civil protection, border security, migration, and asylum in compliance with the national priorities and international commitments.