Costa Rica National Stadium in Sabana

Since Costa Rica diverted their diplomatic ties from Tawain to China almost a year and a half ago, the two countries have been enjoying a vibrant relationship with Oscar Arias having visited China in 2007 and Chinese President Hu Jinato visiting Costa Rica late last year.

One of the many positive aspects drawn from the counties friendship is that China agreed to fund a new national soccer stadium for Costa Rica to be built in Sabana Park in San Jose as a replacement for the former antique stadium demolished last year. With 600 Chinese workers having flown to the country to begin construction, it won’t be long before this exciting project is completed.

The project is believed to have cost up to $80 million dollars and is expected to hold a capacity of 45,000 people. The Chinese workers are reportedly keen to work 24-hours a day on 8 hours shifts in order to quickly get the project completed before the rainy season begins in May. This is however subject to approval for the Costa Rican Labour Ministry who are supposedly hesitant over granting a permit for round the clock work especially seeing as the project already has opposition from those concerned that the project will bring a heavy amount of unwanted traffic to an area that already struggles with congestion.

Costa Rica has been without a national soccer stadium since the former structure built in 1940s that was also located in Sabana was knocked down last year to make way for the new project. Since then the national team which last week qualified for the Gold Cup to be hosted in USA later this year have been playing their games at club stadiums in the country including the Ricardo Saprissa home to current league leaders Deportivo Saprissa.

Costa Rica switched their diplomatic ties to China from Tawain breaking a 63 year relationship with them to become the first Central American country to have formal ties with the Asian superpower.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on January 30th, 2009