The National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, though recently on the receiving end of an upgrade with three new courts added to its grounds, is likely to be further developed; according to a revelation from Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr.
Ramson Jr made the disclosure during the opening of the courts, responding to inquiries of whether or not to expect more projects being undertaken at the multi-sport facility.
“It’s all for this half of the facility, we still got another half to do,” Ramson Jr shared with a smile.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr
“We’re keeping those close to our chest,” the Sport Minister said about any plans for the utilisation of the next side of the Gymnasium compound, “You know, I like to reveal things at the appropriate time, but by now, the Guyanese people know when we do something, we do it with heart, we do it with passion and there’s always a very good standard and quality that we put towards what we’re doing.”
The Sport Minister was further quizzed about the amount of investment that has gone into transforming the Mandela Avenue, Georgetown facility thus far; to which he responded that the significance of the investment goes beyond quantifiable means.
Ramson Jr disclosed, “It’s a lot. Over the two years that we started to put money towards this, because you’ve got to remember what it was like before I got in here. This entire section [that now houses the three courts] was bush and heaps of debris and waste material that’s been left behind. We had to clear that out.”
“We built a new washroom, shower, changing/locker room, these courts, lights, so it’s been quite a big level of investment, I can’t quantify it right now, but I don’t think anybody really cares when you’re getting this level of value and service to the people of the country,” the Sport Minister went on to add.
More additions can be expected at the National Gymnasium facility
On the other hand, about the significance of the investment, Ramson Jr stated, “You look around here, you have hundreds of young people going in and out, either playing or watching, think about that from the point of view of an alternative. If they weren’t here, where would they be? And what they would be doing? Now we have a safe space for so many of them and you’re appealing to different types of sport, different types of players and different types of audience.”
“That’s why, from the Government side, we believe in the investment of infrastructure,” the Sport Minister further stated.
Three new outdoor courts for basketball, futsal and lawn tennis were recently commissioned at the National Gymnasium, adding to the capabilities of the indoor facility, which is also home to over half a dozen sports.
