The financial burden being faced by sporting associations for the use of the stadium and sporting venues managed by Independence Parks Limited (IPL), will shortly be eased as Government is to provide financial assistance to help offset the cost of using these facilities.
Minister with responsibility for Sport, Natalie Neita Headley, said the Ministry of Finance and Planning has approved a request to provide financial assistance towards rental of the venues and $70 million has been budgeted.
“It means that we will have to rationalise, we will have to determine usage. We will have to determine the persons, who have a strong sporting programme in place… to allow for the use of the facilities,” she said.
The facilities, managed by IPL, include the National Stadium, National Aquatics Centre, National Indoor Sports Centre and the Leila Robinson Courts.
Neita Headley informed that a team of persons including members of the National Sports Council will look at the process through which the sporting bodies will be able to access the facilities.
She noted that with the assistance, sporting organisations will be in a better position to stage events using world class facilities, as well as allow athletes to practise on the best surfaces as well.
The expanded and improved seating for spectators at the Leila Robinson Courts, the commissioning of which the Minister delivered her remarks, forms part of a $36 million project to upgrade the overall facility.
