AS GUYANA prepares to host the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championship early in July, the premier playing facility of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) is being upgraded in time for the start of the championships.On Tuesday, the CASH facility was inspected by the Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) president Nigel Hinds and other Commissioners of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Prior to this inspection two weeks ago, the CBC Executive Evaluation Commission, which included CBC president, Glyne Clarke and his vice-president Patrick Haynes had also inspected the facility when they visited Guyana for talks.
Clarke was confident the works would be completed for the championships.
Meantime Jones also expressed satisfaction that the necessary upgrades would be finished in time to host an international tournament.
Currently, work is being done on the players’ locker rooms, the installation of working showers and washrooms as well as interior repainting.
Additionally, fixing of all interior lights and fans were completed.
The washrooms for patrons, playing floor, media and VIP rooms are also to undergo rehabilitation with the venue’s entrance and exit porticoes also changed. The Sports Hall basketball goals are also being changed and two new basketball goals will be imported while the old ones will be moved to the practice venue at the Gymnasium.
The focus of this upgrade/rehabilitation is to ensure the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall is up to the standard of other facilities that host international contests.
The upgrades, however, come at a price, since according to an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rule the markings for other sporting disciplines have to be removed.
The Sports Hall currently houses badminton, volleyball and futsal on some occasions. However, for the CBC U-16 Championships the only markings that are to be visible on the playing floor are those related to basketball. This rule is one of the pre-requisites to be the host country.
The male competition of the Caribbean U-16 Championships begins on July 3 while the female contest starts on July 12 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.