LEGACYOF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTKINGSTON, JAMAICA:FOR A small nation, a tiny dot onthe globe, Jamaica’s footprinton the international sportingmap is large. The number ofglobal sports icons, unearthed bythis nation of just over 4,200 squaremiles, can match up comfortablyagainst the records of numerouslarger and more developedcountries.In track and field, there are UsainBolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; incricket Chris Gayle and Andre Russell;in netball Romelda Aiken; in swimmingthere is Alia Atkinson, and thelist goes on.For all these athletes, there is onecommon denominator. On their individualjourneys to greatness, they allhoned their crafts and competed inlocal facilities constructed or refurbishedby the Sports DevelopmentFoundation (SDF).The agency was established in1995 to provide resources to supportthe development and implementationof sport in Jamaica. Itsmission is to develop the physicalinfrastructure and human capital forsport at the community and nationallevels, by implementing appropriateplans, policies, and programmes. TheSDF also provides funding for sportassociations and grants to athletes toenable participation in regional and14international competitions.However, the development ofsports infrastructure across the islandhas been a hallmark of the agency’swork over the decades.Among the centrepieces of theSDF’s development initiatives arethe running tracks at the NationalStadium and the Stadium East facility.“The National Stadium is the onlyplace in Jamaica that has two synthetictracks more or less at the same level, soyou compete inside, and you warm upoutside on a surface that is basicallythe same. On that basis the NationalStadium is a Level 1 facility, the highestat the international level. Between2009 and 2011, the SDF funded therefurbishing of those tracks and sincethen it has been responsible for themaintenance that has been done,” saysgeneral manager of the SDF, DenzilWilks.Through a process of procurement,the German company Regupol BSWGmbH has installed and maintainedthese facilities, ensuring the availabilityof a world-class facility to Jamaica’sathletes.Additionally, within theIndependence Park complex, the SDFhas also funded the replacement ofthe filtration system at the NationalAquatic Centre, resurfaced the LeilaRobinson netball courts twice andreplaced the seating at the facility.SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021The National Basketball Courtsat Independence Park have alsobenefited from support from theSDF, with the Foundation financingthe refurbishing of the facility tothe tune of $35 million. As part ofthe refurbishing work, the seatingcapacity has been expanded from400 to 1,000, and the playing surfaceupgraded. Sporting lights have alsobeen installed.Another major facility for whichthe SDF has received a number ofplaudits is the Mona Hockey Field inMona, St Andrew. The only international-standard,all-weather artificialplaying field in Jamaica and one ofa few in the Caribbean, the facilityallows local hockey players to simulatefirst-class conditions as they trainand play. Built in 1999, the facility hasplayed host to a number of regionaland international tournaments overthe years, with expectations formany more to come. The surface wasreplaced in 2014 with the assistanceof the Argentinian government.The SDF has also left an indeliblefootprint at the island’s premier traininginstitution for persons pursuingcareers in the field of sports – the G.C.Foster College of Physical Educationand Sports. Located in Spanish Town,St Catherine, the institution boasts alevel two athletic track, constructedPLEASE SEE LEGACY, 17
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