'Let's build a gym AND a statue'

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7: It isn’t a choice between a Clarence Hill statue and a boxing gym.

This from Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney who said there is room for both to happen.

The Sports Minister also revealed where he would like to see the statue of Hill placed.

Government said in the Throne Speech it was going to build a statue of Hill, Bermuda’s only Olympic medallist. Hill told The Royal Gazette he would rather see the money spent on a statue to create a facility for Bermuda’s boxing fraternity.

Minister Blakeney said: I personally was in direct communication with Clarence, well before the announcement was made in the Throne Speech. I made him aware that we are actively looking to identify a suitable facility that could facilitate a boxing gym.”

A home for boxing has been a long on-going saga with previous sports ministers Dale Butler, Randy Horton and El James promising progress, but failing to locate a suitable building.

Admiralty House was ruled out as a possible home in 2008.

Minister Blakeney said: “We have been actively engaged in trying to find a suitable facility. A colleague minister of mine has conducted a site visit looking at the feasibility of a particular site, which is still under consideration.”

He added the National Sports Centre is also in the mix as it is designed to be a multi-purpose facility.

Minister Blakeney said part of the hold-up is trying to find a location is finding a place that has adequate space to hold all the necessary equipment and changing facilities as well as having the correct ceiling height.

He added the boxing gym should also be able to host events so spectators can go in and watch fights.

“An ideal location would be a central location. We are engaged in identifying a facility.”

The Minister said there are several Government owned properties which could possibly fit the bill.

He also revealed that Government would love to have Hill be an integral part of a boxing gym.

“I have talked with him about the programming side of it and his involvement in the facility and lending his expertise to a training regime in instructing young boxers.”

Minister Blakeney said the statue to Hill “is something the Government is committed to because there have been a number of citizens in the country who have called for and suggested that kind of symbolic and meaningful tribute be paid to Clarence.

“Even though we are looking at establishing a boxing gym, we are still equally committed to statue to the accomplishment of Clarence in being the first and only Olympic medallist that Bermuda has produced.”

The Sports Minister said his personal preference would be to put the statue of Hill in the roundabout at the intersection of North and Angle Streets in front of the Centre.

The Minister said it is a fitting place as Hill trained at the Pembroke Youth Centre across from the roundabout.

He added the tree that is currently in the roundabout could be replanted so it is not destroyed.

“It’s a small tree that could be moved somewhere else in a national park. His statue in that area would be very, very appropriate in recognition of Clarence, but there has been no decision yet.

“We are looking at various appropriate sites which would be suitable for situating the statue.”