Sports Minister Daryll Matthew
By Carlena Knight
A mural depicting past track and field athletes, coaches and administrators will adorn the walls of YASCO.
This was revealed by Sports Minister Daryll Matthew who was speaking at the brief opening ceremony for the newly installed track at YASCO Sports Complex.
A date was not given for when this mural will be done, but it will be a part of the second phase of the upgrade of the country’s lone track and field facility.
“Our walls must be repainted to reflect the recognition of our athletes that have gone forward and I would like to announce that we will be commissioning work to put the faces of our athletes, coaches and administrators and have them adorn the walls of this facility in short order,” Matthew revealed.
He said it is time for the country to document its history and this mural is one way to do just that.
“We must motivate and inspire our up-and-coming athletes. Let them see who has gone before us. I am privileged to be the minister also responsible for culture in Antigua and Barbuda and I know that very often we do not know from whence we came, we do not recognize from whence we came and it is time that we start to document our history and if that documentation must start through murals on the walls of YASCO then so be it,” he added.
The second phase of the project will see the construction and completion of stands, bathroom facilities and a warm up track which will be placed east of the main track.
The wood that was used at the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) Double Decker stand at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) will be repurposed as seating for the new stands at YASCO.
Demolition for the Double Decker stand is slated to begin next month, however there has been no official word on when the second phase of the YASCO project will commence.