Major new sporting facility finishes ahead of schedule and within budget
The story of the transformation of the bowl into a 3000 seat national stadium was, in the spirit of the Commonwealth Youth games, a race against time and challenges.
The £3m needed to carry out the project was agreed by Tywnald in its final sitting before the summer break last year.
Funding the cost of the project had been a source of controversy, with fears that the plan would have to be scrapped altogether after Douglas Corporation pulled out of a deal to pay half the cost, claiming the scheme was 'desirable but not essential'.
But the government decided to push ahead with the scheme without assistance from the corporation.
It was officially handed over by the contractors to the government on Friday May 20th this year, just in time for it to be used that afternoon for the closing ceremony of Manx Youth Games.
Community Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney has said the stadium will undoubtedly be the jewel in the Island's sporting crown come September's Commonwealth Youth Games.
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