Leonora Track and Field Centre renovations slated for mid-year completion
Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Junior has said the ongoing renovations to the Leonora Track and Field Centre are set for completion before the end of the year.
Tenders were open for the construction of a new western stand at the Leonora Track and Field Centre in June 2021. Renovations and construction works then began in the last quarter of the year.
Works include the ongoing construction of new spectator stands and the recently completed warm-up and long jump areas.
These works are finally nearing completion.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Junior said, “It’s on the final phases I guess. Before it’s going to be completed, it will be completed by the middle of this year and then we’ll have to install the bucket seats. So this is going to be the first stand at Leonora that will have bucket seats and it will be our new design for all the stands that we do.”
The completion of this will allow Guyana to host the Carifta games in 2023, which we have already been approved for.
Notably, Guyana was originally set to host the games in 2021, then in 2022 – but both times were unable to do so due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guyana will now host the 50th edition of the games next year.
The Government is eager to host more international sporting events.
“President, His Excellency, had spoken about this maybe about a year back. What you would have seen about our bid to host the CPL finals and semi-finals is just an example of what we mean when we say we want to become a home for regional events,” he said.
An announcement on whether Guyana has been approved as a CPL host country is expected before the end of the month.
Minister Ramson added that the hosting of international events is invaluable to the development of local talent, as well as provides a boost to Guyana’s sport tourism.
