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UDP breaks ground for Marion Jones Sports Complex
Like its namesake, retired track and field athlete Marion Jones, the Marion Jones Sports Complex has seen better days.
Today, its battered grandstand, marshy surroundings and general unkemptness belie its intended role as Belize’s premier sports stadium.
But Belize’s Ministry of Sports and National Sports Council took a step toward that dream today, when Minister Elvin Penner and contractor for the first phase of the project, Herman Longsworth, formally broke ground for the start of the project, which had been put on hold less than a year into the current administration’s term of office because of problems with the initial contract.
Speaking at today’s ceremonies, Hon. Penner said that the original bid, for a basketball-volleyball complex, was “overpriced” and not suited to the Ministry’s vision.
The new stadium will house a state-of-the-art track for track and field events, a FIFA-standard football field (the lack of which was the reason our national football team and national club champion had to play home games abroad last year), a cycling track and areas for personal exercise and training. The project is expected to cost upwards of BZ$14 million, but will be completed in phases so as to allow the Ministry to acquire the remainder of the needed funding. Initial funding (about BZ$12-14 million, according to Hon. Penner) came from the Governments of the Republics of China (Taiwan) and Venezuela, as well as international donations.
Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Anthony Michael, said that the NSC was intent on not rushing the project, but rather wanted to “put one foot before the other” and stride steadily toward its completion. He touted the benefits of a state-of-the-art complex for hosting international competitions, building Belize’s “home court advantage” and also reducing crime by giving our youth something to do.
Hon. Penner acknowledged the “disappointment” of basketball and volleyball interest groups at not being included in the Complex plans (the recently returned national team being particularly vocal), but said that the Belize City Center would be renovated with them in mind, as promised by Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow during Saturday’s victory rally to welcome home the silver medal-winners (whom the Sports Minister said had “won gold in our hearts”) from the COCABA championship in Cancun, Mexico.
Works Minister Anthony Martinez said work would start immediately with the filling of the site, dismantling of the bleachers and installing of a high-security fence.
In speaking with Amandala afterward Hon. Penner would not put a timeline on the completion of the project, but said that there were no plans to take Marion’s name off the stadium. (Her uncle, Senator Godwin Hulse, represented her and the Jones family at today’s event.)
L&V Construction, managed by Herman Longsworth, will handle the first phase of the project, which will cost some $1.5 million.
Like its namesake, retired track and field athlete Marion Jones, the Marion Jones Sports Complex has seen better days.
Today, its battered grandstand, marshy surroundings and general unkemptness belie its intended role as Belize’s premier sports stadium.
But Belize’s Ministry of Sports and National Sports Council took a step toward that dream today, when Minister Elvin Penner and contractor for the first phase of the project, Herman Longsworth, formally broke ground for the start of the project, which had been put on hold less than a year into the current administration’s term of office because of problems with the initial contract.
Speaking at today’s ceremonies, Hon. Penner said that the original bid, for a basketball-volleyball complex, was “overpriced” and not suited to the Ministry’s vision.
The new stadium will house a state-of-the-art track for track and field events, a FIFA-standard football field (the lack of which was the reason our national football team and national club champion had to play home games abroad last year), a cycling track and areas for personal exercise and training. The project is expected to cost upwards of BZ$14 million, but will be completed in phases so as to allow the Ministry to acquire the remainder of the needed funding. Initial funding (about BZ$12-14 million, according to Hon. Penner) came from the Governments of the Republics of China (Taiwan) and Venezuela, as well as international donations.
Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Anthony Michael, said that the NSC was intent on not rushing the project, but rather wanted to “put one foot before the other” and stride steadily toward its completion. He touted the benefits of a state-of-the-art complex for hosting international competitions, building Belize’s “home court advantage” and also reducing crime by giving our youth something to do.
Hon. Penner acknowledged the “disappointment” of basketball and volleyball interest groups at not being included in the Complex plans (the recently returned national team being particularly vocal), but said that the Belize City Center would be renovated with them in mind, as promised by Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow during Saturday’s victory rally to welcome home the silver medal-winners (whom the Sports Minister said had “won gold in our hearts”) from the COCABA championship in Cancun, Mexico.
Works Minister Anthony Martinez said work would start immediately with the filling of the site, dismantling of the bleachers and installing of a high-security fence.
In speaking with Amandala afterward Hon. Penner would not put a timeline on the completion of the project, but said that there were no plans to take Marion’s name off the stadium. (Her uncle, Senator Godwin Hulse, represented her and the Jones family at today’s event.)
L&V Construction, managed by Herman Longsworth, will handle the first phase of the project, which will cost some $1.5 million.
