Government and CIASA Break Ground on Cayman Islands Aquatic Centre

The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage joined with the Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association (CIASA) to officially break ground on the Cayman Islands Aquatic Centre, marking the beginning of a transformative investment in the country’s sporting infrastructure.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, Hon. Isaac Rankine, said the project reflects the Government’s commitment to investing in sports and healthy communities through strong partnerships.

“The Aquatic Centre is a tangible reflection of our Ministry’s priorities of Talent Identification and Development and Promoting an Active and Healthy Lifestyle for All. Together with CIASA, we are investing in world-class facilities that will strengthen athlete development, expand opportunities for aquatic sport and recreation, and ensure Caymanians of all ages and abilities have greater access to active, healthy living.”

The new facility will significantly increase pool and lane capacity, supporting Government and CIASA’s Learn-to-Swim programme while enabling more children to develop essential swimming and water safety skills.

Designed to support continued growth of swimming, water polo and artistic swimming, the Aquatic Centre will provide modern training facilities for Caymanian athletes while positioning the Cayman Islands to host regional training camps and international competitions, strengthening both sports tourism and the local economy.

President of CIASA, Stephen Broadbelt emphasized, “It’s not just about breaking ground on new pools or developing aquatic sports for our athletes, it’s also about creating opportunities in for people in our community to remain physically active, socially connected, and safe in and around the water. This aquatic centre will ensure that access to swimming is not a privilege but a right for all Caymanians and we are grateful for the government’s commitment in making this vision a reality.”

The project represents the culmination of many years of planning and collaboration between the Cayman Islands Government and CIASA to address the country’s growing need for modern aquatic facilities. Minister Rankine thanked CIASA for its longstanding partnership and acknowledged the Lions Club of the Cayman Islands, project partners, contractors and all those who have contributed to bringing the project to fruition.

Work at the Cayman Islands Aquatic Centre is expected to commence with fencing to secure the site beginning the week of 13th July 2026. We encourage the community to look out for future updates.