Before the storm - view BNR Sports Complex - Cotroceni district, Bucharest cover photo - 241633288

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Photo title: Before the storm - view BNR Sports Complex - Cotroceni district, Bucharest
Author: Ionel.stoica

Cover photo description:
The current sports base in Cotroceni was donated by royal decree in December 1865 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza to the first sports group in Romania, `Societatea de Dare de Semn`. From 1867 this association expanded its activity, changing its name to `Romanian Central Society of Weapons, Gymnastics and Giving Signs`. Over the years, the old park has changed its appearance. Thus, in 1939 the Izvor Swimming Pool was arranged, then in 1949 the football stadium, the picture being completed in 1975 by a tennis arena with 6,000 seats. Gradually, other constructions appeared, of which the most important for the development of sports activities was the `Games Room`. The current football stadium was inaugurated in 1995, representing the first stadium built in Romania after the Revolution of 1989. At the time of its commissioning, the complex was one of the most modern and chic stadiums in the country. It hosted the matches of the AFC Progresul BucureÈ™ti football team, called FC NaÈ›ional at that time. In 1998 it was one of the three stadiums along with Steaua and `Lia Manoliu` where matches from the European Under-21 Football Championship, hosted for the first time by Romania, took place. Since 2009, no football matches have been played on this stadium, today the Cotroceni complex, owned by the National Bank of Romania BNR, is in an advanced state of degradation.