Olivia Grange, minister of sport, says the Government is taking the business of providing proper infrastructure for sports development very seriously.

The minister was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the installation of an artificial turf at the football field of the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence at The University of the West Indies yesterday.

“We have put plans in place to improve and maintain our sport infrastructure in a major way. A submission to resurface and upgrade the Stadium East facilities is now at Cabinet for sign-off. We have just completed the procurement process and have selected a consultant who will prepare the business plan for the National Stadium,” Grange said.

She said that she was instructed by the prime minister to fast-track the redevelopment of National Stadium, and as such work will begin very soon in Stadium East and is to be completed before the start of the track season next year.

“For the National Stadium, we are now going to be moving quickly into the design stage. Once it’s complete, most of the stadium will be covered and we will have good anti-doping facilities, proper dressing rooms, gym, and all the other equipment that you will find in a First World facility,” Grange said.

She also said that the ministry is in discussion with partners for the redevelopment of Chedwin Park, Drax Hall and Prison Oval.

“We are into a very exciting time for sports development. Let us all work together to take sports in Jamaica to greater heights, with opportunities for all,” the minister said.