Glen Bart, MyVueNews.com

Basseterre, St. Kitts, 15th March, 2018 (MyVueNews.com) – The Ministry of Sports is about to undertake a multi-million-dollar upgrade to the Kim Collins Atlethics Stadium to enhance international hosting capabilities.

Speaking at the launch of the 2018 series of scholastic meets at the Stadium, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sports Shawn Richards disclosed that $4.95 million will be spent to upgrade the Kim Collins Athletics Stadium.

Minister Richards stated, “We are hoping to expand our spectator seating capacity, increase the storage and functional areas and upgrade our athletes’ warm-up and athletes hosting facilities.”

He continued, “The goal is to equip our facilities to host international meets beyond the Carifta Games.  Currently, our warm-up and athlete hosting is a hindrance to us hosting many regional and international meets, and it is our goal to correct this anomaly.”

The minister also used the occasion to announce another important initiative in the Ministry of Sports.

“I am proud to announce that the Ministry of Sports has initiated discussion on a National Sports Policy and Sports Sector Strategic Plan.  We have set our targets to be mobilised by this year on this initiative and have already engaged UNESCO in discussions on this,” Richards informed.

In addition, the sports minister stated, “We have been operating on a three pillared approach for some time – Sport for All; Sport for Development and Excellence in Sport.”

According to the minister, it is necessary to share that vision with stakeholders so that communities can maximise the benefits that sports offer.