The Multi Purpose Sports Complex is finally getting the TLC it deserves with a month long exterior and interior facelift. photo credit: charlie jackson/VINO

all the unsightly damage and non working facilities will be a thing of the past as the Minstries of Finance and Education along with the Recreation Trust get to grips with the Sports Complex issues. photo credit: charlie jackson/ VINO

The A.O.Shirley Ground is also on the "to do list" for the Recreation Trust with the infield due for some major maintenance. photo credit:charlie jackson/VINO

Following an assessment of the scope of works required to bring the interior and exterior of the building up to standard, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Recreational Trust had no choice but to close the building in order to complete the works, which are being funded through the Ministry Of Finance/ Premiers Office.

Apart from painting the outside of the building, repairs will be carried out from top to bottom inside- with repairs to the bathroom areas, changing rooms, walkways, damaged ceiling tiles, walls, floors and a whole litany of other issues. The interior will also be painted and by the time the building re-opens it is expected to look as good as new.

Now cynics will be crying out that the work is only being done so that it can be used  to host a regional Conference, which will be the first function to be held in the fresh and clean building, but optimists will be happy that the state of the building, which every Sports Association and Federation has been complaining about, will be finally rectified and that the project marks a new determination from within the Government and Recreation Trust to bring all the Territories’ sporting facilities up to standard, even if it is one by one.

The floor is also slated to be refurbished but that is understood to be a second phase project.

At least the Complex will be reopened in time for the planned Tropical Shoot Out Collegiate Basketball Tournament, which is scheduled for November 24 and 25, 2012. If that event gets confirmed, it will the first under new booking arrangements for the Complex.

In the meantime, the Hoop It Up Foundation After School Basketball sessions will be moving down to the Cutting Edge Gym while Matrix Volleyball have yet to confirm their new location.

From the re-opening of the Complex on November 19, 2012 Associations, Federations and Organisations as well as individual Groups and Bodies will be charged a fee and will have the option of taking over the Bar for the duration of their booking.

Involving the village, district and community can only be of benefit to all sports in the long term and if there is a reduction in the available use of the Complex it needs to be turned into a positive and then the Complex can be viewed as more of a National Arena and treated as such.

The charging of booking fees will be applied to other venues under the Recreation Trust including the A.O. Shirley Ground which also suffers from over usage and apart from needing completion, now also needs a lot of TLC especially to the grassed area used by footballers.

The Recreation Trust has plans to sort out the field part, but in the meantime football and perhaps even athletics will have to possibly rethink how they use the Shirley Ground if they are to be charged- and of course the rules apply to every user.

Again, though, in truth there is no need for either sport to be using the facility every day. Training for Football Clubs should not be taking place at what is considered the National Stadium and track clubs don’t need to be there every day either.

With the opening of Greenland’s by the end of the month there are numerous other venues that can be investigated as a “base” for a club in either sport to carry out practice sessions. In the case of football they can even look to use different venues for matches, especially considering the comments of Horse Owners Association President, Lesmore Smith, who said that ground sharing is not beyond a possibility at the Ellis Thomas Downs.

If the track clubs have to get creative and hold practices elsewhere then it means the BVIAA has to look closely at its development plan and come up with fresh ideas. They would have to organise a proper “Meet” season and not just a couple of development meets. What would be more exciting than a full programme of Club versus Club to establish a Champion?

Apart from the fact that a lot of athletes suffer sprains and strains because the track is not designed as a practice surface, there is also incredible wear and tear starting to show on the surface and it won’t be long before it needs expensive attention too

All in all a new era is dawning, a facelift not just for the sports facilities but also a new beginning for sports.