The Youth and Sports Ministry has plans to request further funding in the new financial year to construct five new sports field.

This was confirmed by Ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary Alison Burchell while highlighting some of the programs that have helped promote sports and physical activity in the country.

Burchell says the Ministry has developed over 120 sports facilities since the provision of the first capital grant for rural playing fields in 1993.

In the 2017-2018 National Budget, the Ministry set aside $500,000 for Rural Sports Fields including $2,085,120 for Sports Complexes.

Burchell says under the Rural Sports Complex Integrated Program, the Ministry has two sports complexes which have been constructed in phases and are nearing completion.

The first is the Vunisea Sports Complex in Kadavu and the second is the Sawaieke Sports Complex in Gau.

PS Burchell adds through these programs, communities and schools have access to alternative source of income through the hiring of these sporting grounds and facilities.