TELECOMMUNICATIONS gaint Digicel yesterday morning handed over some 40 mattresses at the National Gymnasium after collaborating with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to upgrade the dormitories at the Mandela Avenue sports facility.In addition to equipping each bed with a brand new mattress, Digicel also footed the bill to have the dormitories re-painted.

Handing over the items on behalf of Digicel was the company’s head of Customer Care Representatives, Sherwin Osbourne.
Osbourne noted that the idea to refurbish the Gymnasium came about as the company was looking for places to house out-of-town players of the ongoing Digicel National Schools Football Championships.

After checking out the National Gymnasium, it was observed that the facility was ideal for the purpose, but some works were needed to better enhance the comfortableness of the facility.

“What happened is that as our footballers continue to move across the country, we were looking at places for them to stay at in a big area that is spacious and that is close to the city and close to practice facilities, and we came to the Gymnasium and we saw the dormitories which had enough space… and we decided that we wanted them to stay here, but it needed some work, so we decided that we’re going to get fresh mattresses for all the bunks that we have here and as well paint it,” Osbourne explained.

Though reluctant to release the cost of the initiative, Osbourne pointed out that the company was just happy to do it, knowing that not only the encamping footballers would benefit from the venture.

“We never really say any cost that is attached to it, but we like to look at it as a significant investment in our youths. This is not only for football,[it is also] for basketball, netball any sport in Guyana, where anybody wants to come and stay here, then we have something that they can come and use without having to look at an additional cost factor and as well the location is ideal.” Osbourne said

Making remarks on behalf of the NSC was Director of Sport Christopher Jones. Jones expressed how pleased the commission is that Digicel came on board to help bring the standard of the facility closer to where it needs to be.