The Sports Development Foundation (SDF) spent more than $117 million in the last financial year to instal 20 playing surfaces in schools and communities.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, in making the disclosure said that the initiative will be ramped up this financial year.

“Reigniting lives and livelihoods also includes infrastructure and programmes to nurture talent and enable people to pursue their passions,” she said.

Minister Grange was making her contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 8.

Meanwhile, she said the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) engaged more than 1,000 young people through its grassroots summer camps in Kingston & St Andrew, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, Manchester, Trelawny, and St. James.

INSPORTS also conducted a talent search and recruited 35 boys for its Cricket Incubator programme, through which they are learning the game and reigniting a passion for cricket.

The entity reintroduced the National Primary Schools Championships last month, which includes three regional championships and, for the first time, a national championship dubbed ‘Boys and Girls’ Junior Champs’.