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GoodHeart | Paralympic basketball court undergoes $10-million restoration

Published:Saturday | March 19, 2022 | 12:06 AM
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Coach Neville Sinclair is focused on the future as he lends a hand to ensure his team has a well-designed space to train for competitions.
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Coach Neville Sinclair is focused on the future as he lends a hand to ensure his team has a well-designed space to train for competitions.
A view of the Paralympic basketball court before the much-needed restoration by the Digicel Foundation. The renovations included the resurfacing of the court and construction of new stands for patrons.
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A view of the Paralympic basketball court before the much-needed restoration by the Digicel Foundation. The renovations included the resurfacing of the court and construction of new stands for patrons.
Paralympic gold medallist and Digicel brand ambassador Alphanso Cunningham (right), and Charmaine Daniels, chief executive officer, Digicel Foundation, during the volunteer activity on Jamaica’s first Paralympic Day.
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Paralympic gold medallist and Digicel brand ambassador Alphanso Cunningham (right), and Charmaine Daniels, chief executive officer, Digicel Foundation, during the volunteer activity on Jamaica’s first Paralympic Day.
Digicel Foundation Chairperson, Jean Lowrie-Chin (front), gets a lesson in painting from the foundation’s Construction Manager, Carmel Campbell.
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Digicel Foundation Chairperson, Jean Lowrie-Chin (front), gets a lesson in painting from the foundation’s Construction Manager, Carmel Campbell.
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The Digicel Foundation partnered with the Jamaica Paralympic Association to restore the Paralympic basketball court at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre for the island’s first National Paralympic Day.

The foundation has invested $10 million in the restoration of the basketball court. The funding was awarded as part of the Digicel Foundation’s Special Needs Awareness campaign in October 2021, which included a call for applications from registered special-needs organisations.

“This is our first major investment in the Jamaica Paralympic Association,” explained Charmaine Daniels, chief executive officer of the Digicel Foundation. “We’ve partnered with them in the past on small projects and have been proud to have gold medallist, Alphanso Cunningham, as one of our Digicel Jamaica ambassadors. Now, it’s time for us to make a bigger investment in the team by ensuring that they have a safe and well-maintained space to train and play. This is just one of the ways we’re helping to create a world where no one gets left behind.”

The work done includes the resurfacing of the dilapidated court, replacing the rotting wooden stands with a concrete structure, installing a new perimeter fence, and painting the surrounding facility.

“Our athletes, over the years, have trained at this facility in the interest of national representation,” said Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Paralympic Association. He indicated that while the court has been renovated, there is still more work to do to the adjacent clubhouse and gym. “We’re inviting sponsors to come in, refurbish the facility and help us provide a state-of-the-art gym for our Paralympic athletes.”

Members of the association joined Digicel Foundation on Paralympic Day to finish and paint the stands and remove the old perimeter fencing. Alphanso Cunningham and coach Neville Sinclair were among the members who participated.

“This renovation will assist us tremendously in preparing for future competition and with training our younger athletes,” said Cunningham, adding that the work done will help put them back on track to start their basketball programme.

Jamaica’s Paralympic team is expected to compete in their first international competition in July – a three-a-side basketball competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

To donate or learn more about the Jamaica Paralympic Association, visit www.jamaicaparalympic.com. Have a good story you’d like to share? Email us at goodheart@gleanerjm.com.