New Stands Installed At Leila Robinson Courts

The stands at the Leila Robinson Netball Courts at the National Arena have been expanded and improved to provide more comfortable seating for spectators.

The work, undertaken by the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) at a cost of $13 million, forms part of a $36 million project to upgrade the overall facility, located at Independence Park Complex.

Last year, a state-of-the-art International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved red and blue surface was installed at a cost of $23 million, replacing the outdated rubberised surface.

Speaking at the official ceremony for the recommissioning of the stands, Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, said the upgrading work is in keeping with efforts by the Government to provide world class facilities for the nation’s athletes.

“If we are able to fix what is wrong about the sports, give you the kind of infrastructure you need, allow for athletes to play on world standard courts, I believe we are on a growth path for sports in Jamaica,” she added.

Chairman, SDF, Dr. Warren Blake, said the work undertaken at Leila Robinson is providing netballers with proper playing surface and their supporters “will have somewhere proper to sit and watch them play.”

“Not only was the installation of the seats like that of the surface done in record time, but it was done to the highest of international standards,” he noted.

He said the Government is committed to systematically upgrade and improve sporting facilities islandwide in keeping with the National Sports Policy.

Dr. Blake informed work has already been done on the Mona hockey field and the swimming pool at the National Arena. “We are in the process of doing the G.C. Foster College track… we have our sights set on other nearby facilities (as well),” he informed.

President, Jamaica Netball Association, Marva Bernard, expressed gratitude for the work done, while Vilma McDonald, who captained the 1970 netball team, said it is “just fabulous” that the stands have been refurbished.

“When the courts were built in 1970, they were built for the third world netball championship where we were both playing, and it was great at the time. But over the years, the deterioration took place, so when I got this invitation for today, I had to be here,” Ms. McDonald told JIS News.

Also for her part, former netball player, Marcia Curie-Johnson, expressed the hope that with the improvements undertaken at the netball courts, the sport will continue to grow in the island.

The Leila Robinson Courts are among the most used sporting surfaces in Jamaica, as they are utilised during high school championships, community and business house competitions, among others.

With the installation of the new stands, seating capacity has increased to 1,004 for ably bodied individuals and eight for members of the physically challenged community.