Much of the unfinished National Sports Centre is likely to remain so after Government decided not to allocate it any money in this year's Budget – apart from another promise to start work on an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

It is the second year running that the Island's premier sporting facility has suffered, while sport in general appears to have borne the brunt of cuts with money for Sports Development down $1million from last year to a projected $3,145,000 million for 2010/11.

Overall a total of $39 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Environment of Sports.

But it would appear that the bulk of that allocation will be used on Environment projects rather than sport.

Figures have not yet been released on how much will be allocated to invidual sports.

Sports administration keeps its $1.4million allocation while money for sports facilities management remains the same at just over $1.3 million

There is, however, a commitment to the National Aquatic Centre at the NSC, the building of which was promised to start last year.

In his comments on the Budget Statement yesterday, Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney said: "Of special note is the fact that the National Sports Centre will begin construction of the Aquatic Centre which includes an Olympic sized pool and diving platforms."

Meanwhile, athletics awards will stay the same at $275,000. There has been a change in how that money is allocated with the number of grants for Category A Elite Athletes rising from three to five.

The knock-on effect is that the number of awards for Category B athletes drops from 15 to 10, while the number of Category C awards remains the same at 23. Athletes in each three groups are likely to receive an average of $4,500, up $500 from the previous year.

And junior athletes will also benefit, with the number of awards rising from 10 to 14, with the average award staying the same at $5,000.

Commented Blakeney: "The $39 million which has been allocated to the Ministry of the Environment and Sports futher demonstrates the Government's commitment to the environment and its sustainability."