the National Stadium is transformed into a National Sports Centre.

Mr. Donald Lines, chairman of the board of trustees, said stadiums in Edmonton and Vancouver could be visited as the board tried to determine what shape the National Stadium should take.

"If you are asking me when we would unveil a concept, it would probably be some time in mid-summer,'' Mr. Lines told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Any work would be completed in phases and the trustees would be careful not to create an expensive white elephant, he said.

"It is not a profit-making operation, but we're trying to make it as multi-faceted as possible.'' Before it made an announcement, the board would have to study plans and talk to Government about financing and other matters, said Mr. Lines, who is president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Bermuda.

Talks were held with sports centre users and potential users. So far, "we've done a lot of leg work,'' he said. "The next stage is to get down to cases.'' The board of trustees took over responsibility for the stadium from the Ministry of Youth and Sport on January 1.

It recently named Bermuda accountant Mr. Clifford Wade the stadium's manager.

Mr. Lines said the board had purchased mobile change rooms which would soon be in use at the stadium. "The facilities will be vastly improved.'' It was hoped the sports centre would continue to be used for concerts and other cultural activities, not just sports. The board wanted to assure the track was not destroyed when such events were held there.

The board would also consider inexpensive options for providing cover from wind and rain.

Mr. Lines said having control in the hands of trustees would accelerate the stadium's development.