Tomašević jokes about long-delayed Špansko pool opening and explains the holdup

The Špansko swimming pool has finally received its operating permit, but Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević kept the exact opening date under wraps, at least as a joke.

“ We have an exact date, but I won’t say it. I’m joking. It should open next week. I hope to see you next week to open the pool,” Tomašević said when asked when residents would finally be able to use the long-awaited facility and who would answer for the missed deadlines.

He said the delay reflected the complexity of building a swimming pool. Roads, buildings, kindergartens and schools follow familiar procedures for operating permits and technical inspections, he explained, while Zagreb builds pools much less often. A stadium may be built once in 50 years and a pool once in 20, he said, making these projects more complex and requiring different permits, inspections and technical reviews.

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We have an exact date, but I won’t say it. I’m joking. It should open next week. I hope to see you next week to open the pool.

Tomašević said unforeseen complications can arise during technologically demanding projects and push back deadlines. Asked who would be held responsible, he said the expert supervisor hired by the city through a public procurement process would determine whether the contractor caused the delay.

If the supervisor assigns responsibility to the contractor, the city will charge contractual penalties. If the delay resulted from force majeure, the city cannot impose them, Tomašević said.

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If the supervisor defines it as the contractor’s fault, then we charge penalties. If it turns out to be force majeure, then we cannot charge penalties.