A Chinese delegation is expected this month in Grenada to begin preliminary assessment of the Track and Field and Football Stadium at Queen’s Park.
The team, which will spend about three weeks on the island, will also meet with officials of the Ministries of Sports, Works and Infrastructure as well as some of the main stakeholders including the Grenada Athletics Association, the Grenada Football Association, among others.
“The Chinese will give their professional assessment of the facility and the Ministry of Sports will determine the best option based on the financial implications,” Sports Minister Patrick Simmons said.
Arrangements for the rebuilding of the stadium were finalized during the signing of the second phase of a Technical Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Grenada and China last November.
The facility was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the government has been criticized for its tardy response in getting the rebuilding process stared. However, Simmons said such projects required tremendous resources and planning, noting that efforts were made as early as 2008 to reconstruct the stadium.
Work on the stadium is expected to start following the 2012 track and field season.
On completion, the stadium will include 8,000 permanent seats and an additional 2,000 temporary seats which could be relocated to other playing fields around the island.
