St. George’s, January 20, 2011 – The Government of Grenada has reaffirmed its determination to continuing with the development of the nation’s playing fields and sporting facilities, including the National Athletics Stadium at Queen’s Park.

Avenues are being pursued to source assistance for the reconstruction of the National Stadium, said Sports Minister Patrick Simmons during his budget presentation on Tuesday, January 18.

“We made contact with a company from Trinidad and Tobago that has demonstrated some interest in working along with us on the stadium,’’ Simmons said.

The Minister, who has openly expressed his disappointment about the state of the Stadium, damaged during the passage of hurricane Ivan in 2004, said a meeting is scheduled with the Trinidadian company for January 29.

He is hopeful it will provide positive feedback about the project.

On a more positive note, the Minister mentioned that work on the Olympic House, the official home of the Olympic Association, will finally begin during the first quarter of this year. The project, which is being funded by the Association, had been delayed due to land ownership issues.

However, in 2010, following an example set the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), the Ministry of Sports lobbied to have the designated lands for the Olympic House vested in the hands of the Olympic Association.

The Olympic House, which will be built in Calliste, St. George’s, is part of a greater project to construct an Olympic Complex.

The proposed complex will house an Olympic-sized swimming pool and tennis courts.

A major budgeted initiative in 2010 was the Lighting of Playing Fields project.  Under this project, lights were installed at Alston George Park, Victoria.

Though attempts were made to bring lights to Cuthbert Peters Park, Gouyave, and Victoria Park, Grenville, the efforts by GRENLEC to erect poles were limited by problems with the playing fields.  However, Simmons has reassured of his ministry’s continuance of the project.

In the case of Cuthbert Peters Park, one of the successes was a joint government-NLA undertaking that resulted in the refurbishment of the Park’s basketball court.  

This year, the Minister has promised to continue upgrading courts and playing fields. This includes enhancing the facilities at Progress Park, St. Andrew.  Bleachers capable of seating 300 people will be constructed around the first-class cricket ground.