Demolition of the aging National Stadium at Waterford, St. Michael, is set to begin in two weeks, marking the first step in the construction of a brand-new facility for athletes. The entire project, expected to span over two years, will cost an estimated $80 million.
The Ministry of Sports announced the plans yesterday, detailing the phased redevelopment of the stadium. During a press conference at the venue, Minister of Sports Charles Griffith confirmed that the Beijing Construction Engineering Group, a Chinese construction company, has already mobilized workers on-site. Demolition is scheduled to commence between April 15 and 16, with a local company contracted to complete the initial phase.
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A total of 25 Barbadian workers will participate in the project alongside 15 Chinese workers.
Griffith expressed satisfaction with the progress so far, while China’s Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Mr. Liang, emphasized the significance of the collaboration between the two nations.
“I think this stands as yet another symbol of the friendship between China and Barbados. After almost two years of dedicated technical work, the interface phase has been completed, and the general contractor is already mobilized on-site,” Liang said.
High-Quality Construction
“We are full of confidence and strong momentum. I truly believe that through our joint efforts, we will witness the realization of a magnificent, high-standard, high-quality, and entirely new National Stadium,” he added.
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Griffith explained that the first phase of the stadium redevelopment will feature a 10,000-seat capacity.
“At some point, we will construct a road on the northern side, which will facilitate phase two. That phase will add another 10,000 seats. Phase one is being fully funded by the Chinese, and on behalf of the Government, I extend our gratitude for this significant contribution.”
Additional Sports Infrastructure
As part of the government’s broader investment in sports infrastructure, Griffith announced the construction of two new 400-metre tracks—one in the south-central region and another in the north of the island.
“Just yesterday [Monday] in Parliament, $50 million was approved by finance to go to the National Sports Council. Our goal is to match the improvements taking place at the National Stadium,” he stated.
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Griffith also commended Barbadian athletes for their perseverance and continued excellence despite not having a permanent home stadium.
“I was at Usain Bolt Sports Complex last week for BSSAC (Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships), and I saw individuals achieving personal bests. Our athletes are resilient, and I fully expect them to perform well at CARIFTA [in Trinidad and Tobago] and make Barbados proud.”
While winning gold is always the goal, Griffith emphasized that strong performances and continuous improvement are what truly matter. He also praised the Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB) for proactively implementing programs to support the development of local athletes.
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