Prime Minister Gaston Browne has asked the sports minister to explore a bid to host some events at a future Commonwealth Games, pointing to new sporting facilities under development in Antigua and Barbuda.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Browne said the initiative followed a suggestion from a Commonwealth representative.

“I’ve just asked the Minister of Sport … to bid for the Commonwealth Games next time around to bring some aspect of it here,” he said.

Browne did not identify a Games edition, specify which events the country would seek or announce that a formal bid had been submitted.

His comments came during an update on the Harrison sports complex in Potters, which he described as an approximately $20 million development supported by donor funding and government contributions.

The complex will include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a baseball diamond, facilities for football and cricket, and courts for basketball, netball and volleyball, along with spectator seating, he said.

Browne identified swimming meets as one potential use of the new facilities.

“I’m sure that we can have swimming meets,” he said, noting that the Swimming Association had advocated for an Olympic-sized pool for years.

He said the pool was expected to be available within approximately three months, although he did not give a specific opening date.

The proposed exploration of Commonwealth Games hosting remains at an early stage. Browne did not outline discussions with Games organizers, an assessment of hosting requirements or funding for a bid.

The Potters development forms part of a wider push to improve sporting infrastructure. Browne also said Cabinet had agreed to allocate $17 million in the next budget year for constituency facilities, with $1 million earmarked for each constituency.

He said those improvements would repair deteriorating amenities and add courts where needed, giving young people more opportunities to participate in sport.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda explores hosting Commonwealth Games events.