Rafał Tataruch said the centre was waiting for a ventilation system design that meets the requirements of the Polish Speed Skating Association.
Once it is ready, he said, the final cost can be established and a completion date set, he said.
He hopes the project will be completed by the end of 2027 at the latest.
"As far as I know, this is the only ice rink in the world whose construction is now nearing completion," Tataruch said. "Renovations of some well-known venues, such as the rink in Calgary, are planned, but in my view, our rink in Zakopane will be the most modern and capable of hosting top-level speed skating competitions."
A specialist from Finland is expected in November to conduct initial dry tests of the ice-making systems and check the equipment, Tataruch said.
Polish Speed Skating Association head Konrad Niedźwiedzki said moving athletes to the facility in August or September next year was realistic.
Sports and Tourism Minister Jakub Rutnicki estimated that the facility was "85–90 percent complete" and said the ventilation system required technical changes.
The project is three years behind schedule, with construction costs exceeding PLN 100 million (EUR 22.7 million).
The complex will include a 400-metre speed skating track, a 40-by-60-metre short-track rink, administrative and changing facilities, seating for around 2,000–3,000 spectators, sports performance testing rooms, sport climbing and weightlifting facilities, and indoor and outdoor athletics tracks.
The first tender was announced in 2021, with completion initially scheduled for June 2023. Construction began in spring 2022, but work was suspended in 2025.
(sp/gs)
Source: PAP