Minister of Sports Olivia Grange revealed that the long-awaited redevelopment of the Independence Park Complex, including the 61-year-old National Stadium, has been given the green light by the Public Investment Management Committee to proceed.

Grange, who oversees the super Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, made the revelation during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate at Gordon House on Tuesday.

She said she has given her team 12 months to report back to the Public Investment Management Committee all that is required to take the project to the next stage.

“I am heartened by the support of my colleague, the minister of finance and the public service, who has undertaken to provide resources to assist us to prepare the necessary drawings and plans to move the National Stadium development forward,” said Minister Grange.

In addition to the upgrading of the stands, seating, and lighting, the redevelopment of the complex will include a new velodrome, this time outside the National Stadium facility, and a National Sports Museum.

But Minister Grange was quick to point out that much preparatory work is still needed and it will take an estimated period of 36 months to complete the construction.

“We have come a far way but there’s further to go. We will realise our ambition of a modern, state-of-the-art National Stadium and sports museum – monuments to our greatness as we set things right,” she pointed out.

Meanwhile, the minister revealed that the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) will invest $165 million to construct multi-purpose courts and upgrade fields and other infrastructure in communities and schools.

“The SDF will also provide $182 million to support the development work of 57 national sports federations and associations,” she added.

Grange also had high praises for the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) — an agency of the ministry — as they continue to engage thousands of children across the island to unearth talent in all sporting disciplines.

“The [INSPORTS] cricket incubator and talent search has also unearthed talent for the national youth teams [as] 12 of the 14 players that represented Jamaica on the Under-19 women’s team came through INSPORTS camps,” she noted.

The ministry also gave $20 million to the Reggae Girlz and $20 million to the Sunshine Girls as they fine-tune their preparation for the FIFA World Cup and Netball World Cup, respectively.

“We will give the Reggae Girlz a proper send-off next Tuesday as we shower them with love for this important assignment, and we will also be cheering hard for the Sunshine Girls who will be competing in South Africa,” said Grange.

The Government will also be providing special support to the national team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin as well as for the hosting in Jamaica of the Pan Am Individual Badminton Championships and the Pan Am Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers.

Support for the Pan Am Lacrosse Championship; the Rugby Americas North Women’s 15s and Men’s Under-19 Regional Championships; as well as the Americas Championships World Cup Qualifiers.