Badminton and Squash will have a home in Barbados by next year.
Government, through the National Sports Council (NSC) is set to construct a new indoor facility for both disciplines to the tune of $4.5 million at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey, St Michael.
This was revealed during a historic ground breaking ceremony for the training centre on Wednesday.
Delivering the featured address, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith said it’s part of government plans to continue improving local sports.
“ I really welcome this. We need to have facilities for as many of our disciplines as possible and the truth is government is pouring from a single cup so we cannot build a facility for every single discipline that is on island,” Griffith stated. “As much as possible, what we would try to do is build multi-purpose facilities so we will have two or three disciplines at a particular location. I want you to take care of the facility. I am sure that at the end of the day, we will have the results we are looking for in terms of development.”
President of the Barbados Badminton Association Kevin Wood, described the news as an exciting moment which will boost the sport in a major way.
“When the facility is completed, it will give us the opportunity for our national athletes to benefit from a dedicated facility to the sport and surely this will help our athletes to reach their true potential. Our paraathletes have not been left out because the facility is fully accessible and it allows them to be involved in the sport as well, which is good,” he said.
Wood also indicated clubs can now benefit along with schools. “All those schools who don’t have a hall big enough for Badminton. The sport also benefits from having the first badminton-only facility in the Caribbean which is a big achievement. This allows us to host training camps and will boast the sports tourism product.”
President of the Barbados Squash Association, Craig Archer, said the new facility would enhance the sport’s resources.
“This will enable us to install six new courts, so effectively doubling the stock of squash courts on the island, which is a really big deal for us because one of the things that have limited the growth of the sport is the steady reduction in [the] number of facilities in the island. The squash facility has been designed to accommodate courts that will be side by side with movable walls. This will potentially help us to do well in the future. I am proud to say that over the years, we have produced worldclass players.”
The facility will feature six courts for each sport and will have the capacity to host local and regional tournaments. The new indoor facility will also have changing rooms, bathrooms, office spaces, a small conference area and a small retail space.
(BT)
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