July 19, 2022, Balmain Couva: The Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (SporTT) in collaboration with its line ministry; Sport and Community Development (MSCD) are pleased to announce the extension of operating hours at all sporting facilities across T&T.
This announcement comes as the country continues to revise COVID-19 regulations and remove restrictions, held over the last two years. Since the announcement of Return-to Play by the Honourable Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe in January and the lowering of COVID-19 restrictions, the request for use of sporting facilities managed by SPORTT and the Ministry have greatly increased.
To better help facilitate these requests and accommodate T&T’s athletes and the public usage of these facilities, the opening hours have now been extended from 7pm to 9pm during weekdays and to 5pm on weekends in most facilities. These new operating hours will also ensure there is sufficient time available for increase sanitation of all facilities, alleviating any risk of COVID-19 transmission and ensuring there is continued precautions taken as T&T adjust to living in the pandemic.
Honourable Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe notes, “I have been made aware of the increase in demand for the use of these sporting facilities and I am pleased to announce the expansion of the opening hours. This extension of the operating hours would allow for greater number of athletes, coaches, and persons to train and therefore benefit from these facilities. The increase in sanitation services at the facilities is also integral to this plan allowing for the safe Return-to-Play everywhere. It also ensures that spectators, family, and friends can also enjoy the facilities as they support their loved ones. We again encourage the sporting community to take advantage of these extended opening times, book through the authentic channels and let’s continue to create a nurturing and stress-free environment for our athletes, citizens, and communities.”
National Governing Bodies and Sport Serving Bodies will now be able to host sporting events and execute sporting activities for fully vaccinated athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators, at specific sporting facilities across T&T. Approval has also been granted for fully-vaccinated spectators to attend events at 50% (fifty percent) facility capacity for outdoor events, and 25% (twenty-five percent) facility capacity for indoor events, subject to the COVID-19 guidelines to be issued by the Ministry of Health.
The new closing hours at Sporting Facilities are:
Main Sporting facilities: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Ato Boldon Stadium, Larry Gomes Stadium; National Aquatic Centre/Cycling Velodrome; Hasely Crawford Stadium/Jean Pierre Complex National Racquet Centre/Hockey Centre; Dwight Yorke Stadium – Services up to 9pm. Monday to Friday.
Indoor Facilities: Central Regional, Eastern Regional, Maloney, Mayaro, Southern and South West Regional Indoor Sport Arenas, and their related amenities – Services up to 9pm. Monday to Friday.
Community Swimming Pools – Services up to 5pm. Monday to Friday.
Public Holidays – Will be treated as special event days, subject to booking arrangements.
Weekends – Services up to 5pm.
The public is advised that these new hours came into effect as of Friday 15th July, 2022.
