Durrant Pate/Contributor

The government has announced the establishment of the National Sports Commission, which will oversee the streamlining of the agencies serving the sports sector and a National Sports Advisory Council.

Sports Minister, Olivia Grange who made the announcement during her Sectoral Debate presentation on Tuesday, emphasised that as part of her ministry’s transformation plan for sports, “these entities will be resourced to benefit from innovation, take advantage of opportunities for economies of scale and expand their services to the sports sector.” 

The National Sports Advisory Council to perform the following functions: 

1. Provide advice to the Minister on policy and the harmonisation of the sports industry  
2. Promote sports development actions 
3. Conduct impact assessments and analyses of the government’s policy directives 
4. Provide ongoing development of proposals for National Policy in relation to sport. 
5. Advise on strategies to create synergies among sports federations through capacity building, streamlining, funding and infrastructure development 
6. Monitor the transformation plan for sports, ensuring timely and effective implementation.

New Sports Hall 

The portfolio minister also announced the construction of a new Sports Hall, which will be a flexible multisport, multi-use, naturally ventilated facility for training and also competition. The new Sports Hall will be adjacent to Stadium East.

Minister Grange told parliament that the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) spent $236 million on sports infrastructure across constituencies in the last financial year. The projects included the construction of multi-purpose courts as well as the rehabilitation and fencing of playing fields and improvements to national facilities. 

According to Grange, “The SDF also supported national sports federations to the tune of $197 million for their development programmes, as we seek to lift sports performance to the Next Level through tangible support.  At the same time, the Ministry supported the entertainment sector through grants, tour support and sponsorship in the sum of J$148.6 million.” 

The Ministry will be collaborating with the Jamaica E-Sports Initiative and the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association to raise funds to support restoration projects in schools that were affected by last year’s hurricane.