Isidoro Beaton Stadium’s Accessibility Improves, says Area Rep

Athletes are now taking advantage of greater access to the facilities at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium under the management of the National Sports Council. The Isidoro Beaton Stadium is regarded as the home of the Belmopan Bandits, a football team that is owned by former Area Representative John Saldivar. But, when the Briceño administration took office in 2020, management was transferred to the National Sports Council and, according to Area Representative Oscar Mira, this has made a huge difference in the level of access athletes presently enjoy.

Oscar Mira

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, City of Belmopan

“I can say for a fact that since the management of the Isidoro Beaton stadium was passed on to the sports council, the Belize Sports Council, access to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium has been opened to anyone who wants to have access. You go to the stadium, the Sports Council office is there and you book your spot. It is not for free, because the maintenance is high. The lights, you have to pay light and security. There are a lot of expenses that comes with a stadium like Isidoro Beaton. But, you can go and book your hour, your time. More persons have access now, and I saw the board and the board was full, from UB to individuals who want to go out there and have one hour of football. I saw last night this little group who goes out there once a week. He books it once a week, pays his money and go out there. This is just ordinary people who made a little team and they just want to go out there and exercise. You can also access the running area of the stadium if you want to, early in the morning. You don’t need to pay for that. The young footballers, under ten, under thirteen, they don’t need to pay. You can just go in and do your workout.”

Paul Lopez

“And you are saying this wasn’t the case before. This level of access wasn’t possible?”

Oscar Mira

“There was no access. I can tell you, that we since I had this football team we wanted to have access and it was denied to us, and I looked inside and it was like three persons on the pitch, three Bandits working out on the pitch, nobody else. And, we were denied every time we tried to get inside. It was being run like it was a privately owned stadium.”