Barbados’ Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith has reaffirmed his government's commitment to sports tourism, touting it as a central pillar of the island’s development strategy as the ministry delivers a major boost to local sport through a multimillion-dollar infrastructure drive.

Griffith’s comments came as he updated sports enthusiasts on the progress at five new and refurbished sports venues, which fall under the National Sports Council’s (NSC) Capital Projects initiative. The $30 million investment will benefit nine national sporting bodies, including athletics, cricket, netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash, beach volleyball, and beach wrestling.

"Sports tourism is top of mind as always, and I believe that having this facility here will add to that. It is at the snagging stage, really. We are going to finish the seating, and we should be good to go,” the minister added before visiting the next facility—the multi-purpose badminton and squash courts,” Griffith said as he assessed the near-complete beach sports complex at Wildey during a recent media tour of key construction sites.

"This is phase one of the project. I believe it is 90 per cent completed. It is expected that this will go well in terms of us hosting tournaments,” he added, noting that the facility, which will accommodate beach volleyball and beach wrestling, has capacity for about 500 spectators.

Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith. (Photos: Barbados Today) 

Along with a multi-purpose beach facility, the Wildey compound is also home to a multi-purpose badminton and squash court, as well as a new athletics track. Those will be in close proximity to the aquatic centre and the Wildey hockey turf.

Griffith shared that the badminton and squash courts, which were well received by both national federations at their recent launch, are expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months.

"The truth is that we cannot build a facility for every single national federation, so what we’re trying to do as much as possible is combine sports at a particular location," Griffith explained.

The adjacent athletics track will be fitted with facilities for field events and will be disability-accessible, furthering the ministry’s goal of inclusive national development.

Project manager Henry Taylor noted that excavation was split into two phases due to the amount of earth to be moved and the need to preserve topsoil for use around the track. He confirmed that the project remains on track for handover by year-end and will include a media centre.

Meanwhile, Griffith confirmed that the Netball Stadium at Waterford is being transformed into a multi-purpose facility that will also accommodate basketball and volleyball.

Griffith also indicated that the West Indies team is expected to use the grounds at Blenheim for practice sessions, as cricket nets and bowling machines are in place.

"We have two concrete tracks and five grass pitches where we are hoping to develop young cricketers. The facility is at a level where the West Indies will be coming here to get in some practice. What we did not get to see would have been the two 400 tracks. We are looking to also put six dedicated football fields in place,” said Griffith.

The old NSC building at Blenheim is also set for transformation into a central secretariat for national federations. Griffith was clear that this initiative is about long-term national development.

“Government is committed to ensuring that our sports project on the island is growing and continues to expand in terms of the spend, as $30 million in sports is a lot of money for an island of our size, but we believe that this is a necessary investment in the future," the minister stated.