In Náměšť nad Oslavou, a gymnasium renovated for more than 60 million CZK was opened

Náměšť nad Oslavou - In Náměšť nad Oslavou in the Třebíč region, a renovated Sokol building will begin serving social and sports events. The city invested over 60 million crowns in it. The first event will be a ball held on Friday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Husova Elementary School. In addition to events organized by the city’s cultural center and local associations, the building will continue to serve Sokol, as stipulated in the contract concluded during the transfer of the Sokol building to the city’s ownership. Mayor Jan Kotačka (Cooperation – activities) said this during today’s ceremonial opening of the renovated building.

"We committed to allowing Sokol to continue using the building for training after the renovation to the same extent as it was used when it was a Sokol building,” said Kotačka. The agreement for free use is valid for 25 years; after that, Sokol will have the option to buy the building back with the condition that the city can use it for its activities for another 25 years. The purchase price will be based on the value the building had at the time of the free transfer to the city, which according to Kotačka is about three million crowns. "It was really done with the aim of not harming anyone and with the goal that it doesn’t matter to us whether Sokol owns it or the city does, but it must own a building that is functional and serves people,” said Kotačka.

The renovation of the Sokol building began in January 2021. Náměšť nad Oslavou repeatedly sought contractors for this long-planned investment financed from the city’s budget, succeeding only on the fifth attempt. The construction of the Sokol building was completed last November, followed by the installation of the equipment. The construction work cost 54 million crowns. The city spent another ten million on equipment, stage or audiovisual technology, public lighting, and landscaping around the Sokol building, which is located near the city center.

The construction of the Sokol building was led by builder Antonín Kašpar from Mohelno. Work began in June 1924, and a month later, a cornerstone was placed on the first completed wall, which is visible from the interior staircase after the renovation. The construction cost 165,000 crowns. The ceremonial opening of the Sokol building took place in July 1925.

In the 1970s, an extension was added at the entrance. The reconstruction included the demolition of this extension, which was replaced by a new entrance with a basement mainly intended for sanitary facilities. The architects originally proposed a modern glass extension that would contrast with the appearance of the Sokol building. After lengthy debates, the historically styled extension option, which was approved by council members and the public, won out.

The city has owned the Sokol building since 2014, when it agreed with the Sokol headquarters and the local sports unit on its transfer. "At that time, it was, you could say, one of the small miracles,” Kotačka reflected on the agreement. According to him, all parties involved had a common goal - to save the dilapidated building, which represents the only larger cultural hall available for the five-thousand-strong city. The Sokol did not have the funds for such an expensive repair, so it was transferred to the city, which committed to restoring it.

The Sokol could only make the most necessary repairs with contributions. "But it was clear that the building needed a radical intervention. Sokol had neither the people nor the money for that. That’s why we went for an agreement of 25 plus 25 years. For us, that is absolutely fine; it was successfully repaired, and it will serve its purpose – that’s great,” said Erik Hubcej, the mayor of the Náměšť Sokol sports unit, today to ČTK. There are about 160 Sokols in Náměšť, including children. The Sokol building is used by dance and table tennis clubs.