Active Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides RMB 576 million grant — via ETCA — for Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#66089)

¥576K RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Belarus
Country	Belarus
Start Date	Oct 10, 2018
End Date	Sep 24, 2033
Duration	5,463 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`90334`

Grant Description

On April 25, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Lukashenko unveiled a model of the Belarusian National Football Stadium and Swimming Pool Project.

Then, on August 6, 2019, Belarusian Economy Minister Dmitry Krutoi announced that the Chinese Government would provide a $235 million grant for the construction of a national football stadium and world-class swimming pool in Minsk.

One week later, on August 13, 2019, the President of Belarus signed Decree 306 for the Dynamo National Olympic Stadium [Национальный олимпийский стадион ”Динамо“], and Decree 307 for the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports [Республиканский центр олимпийской подготовки по водным видам спорта].

The RMB 692 million grant commitment from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) for the Dynamo National Olympic Stadium Construction Project is captured via Record ID#66089, while the RMB 576 million grant commitment from MOFCOM for the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports Construction Project is captured via Record ID#90334.

The grant funding was drawn from multiple Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreements (ETCAs) that the Chinese Government and the Government of Belarus had previously signed.

One of these ETCAs was signed on June 10, 2018 and it committed RMB 800 million for the Dynamo National Olympic Stadium Construction Project, the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports Construction Project, and other projects. Another ETCA was signed on October 10, 2018.

It committed an unknown amount of grant grant funding for the Dynamo National Olympic Stadium Construction Project and the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports Construction Project.

The purpose of the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Water Sports Construction Project is to construct an aquatic sports facility with 6000 seats in the capital city of Minsk.

The design and construction of the project will seek to comply with the requirements of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). The project site is located on Kalvaryiskaya Street in Minsk and it occupies a construction area of 5.75 hectares. The total construction area is approximately 40,000 square meters.

Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) is the contractor responsible for project implementation. Beijing Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. is responsible for project design and management. MOFCOM awarded BCEG an RMB 576 million project implementation contract in May 2020. A formal project commencement ceremony took place on June 30, 2020.

On June 1, 2022, a Chinese subcontractor loaded into a Chinese port a set of prefabricated stand molds for the stadium in Belarus. The project was originally expected to reach completion by December 31, 2023.

📋 Staff Comments

Many sources identify a single $235 million grant commitment to build both facilities while others list the total grant commitment as $180 million. AidData has taken into account sources that identify the cost of the stadium alone as $180 million and the swimming pool alone as $60 million to account for the $235 million donation and coded the Project ID#90334 and Project ID#66089 accordingly.
These two facilities are also located in different areas of Minsk, despite initial plans for them to be attached.
The Chinese project title is 白俄罗斯国际标准游泳馆项目.

📚 Sources & References

BCEG has won the bid of Belarus's International Standard Swimming Pool Aid Project
Chinese company wins bid for construction of int'l standard natatorium in Belarus
China to allocate $235m to build football stadium, swimming pool in Minsk
New sport facilities of international standard to become symbols of friendship of Belarus and China, Лукашенко дал добро на строительство в Минске стадиона и бассейна на китайские деньги, Президент подписал указы по строительству в Минске футбольного стадиона и бассейна
China Will Build $180 Million Pool And Stadium In Minsk As Lavish Gifts
The Leaders of China and Belarus Jointly Unveiling the Model of The Belarusian National Football Stadium and Swimming Pool Project, Национальный олимпийский стадион ”Динамо“, Указ №307 'О реализации проекта технико-экономической помощи 'Бассейн международного стандарта'.
Why does China invest in Belarus?
BELARUS NATIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM PROJECT DESIGNED BY CHINA IPPR IS ABOUT TO START CONSTRUCTION
Beijing Urban Construction won the bid for the Belarus stadium project
Two Beijing companies named general contractors to build football stadium, swimming pool in Belarus
Report on preparations for building national football stadium, international-level swimming pool in Minsk
MINSK - National Football Stadium
China to Develop New National Football Stadium for Belarus
New design: This is Minsk's national football stadium
Belarus
China sign agreements on technical, economic aid projects
Belarus to sign agreement with China on construction of national stadium, swimming pool
Belarus to sign agreement with China on construction of national stadium, swimming pool
援白俄罗斯国际标准游泳馆项目举行启动仪式
Aided Belarus International Standard Swimming Pool Project
Beijing Construction Engineering won the bid for the Belarusian International Standard Swimming Pool Project
张茂于副署长主持召开援毛里塔尼亚、援白俄罗斯项目监督调研视频会
Lukashenko signs decrees to build football stadium, swimming pool in Minsk
Report on preparations for building national football stadium, international-level swimming pool in Minsk https://president.gov.by/en/events/report-on-preparations-for-building-national-football-stadium-international-level-swimming-pool-in-minsk-21728
News & Events in Belarus, УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА РЕСПУБЛИКИ БЕЛАРУСЬ
China to allocate $235m to build football stadium, swimming pool in Minsk, Техпомощь Китая Беларуси приблизится к 0,5 млрд долларов, Почему Китай расщедрится и подарит Беларуси стадион и бассейн за 180 млн долларов
Aleksandr Lukashenko inspects renovated Traktor Stadium in Minsk Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.