Above: the opening ceremony of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium (BIS Photo/Derek Smith and Patrick Hanna)

The Bahamas has officially opened its new 15,000-seat national stadium.

The Thomas A Robinson National Stadium is the culmination of a two-year project that was a gift of the Chinese government.

The $30 million stadium, which was officially handed over from China to the Bahamas in June, is named after Robinson, a Bahamian track legend who represented the country in four consecutive Olympics beginning in 1958.

It was opened with a ceremony on Saturday.

The project is part of of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, which is continuing to pursue a redevelopment plan on its 450 acres, one that will eventually include an athletes’ village, new baseball and softball fields and stadiums and a new indoor multiplex.

The Bahamas’ growing baseball community has particularly high hopes for the stadium — with dreams of perhaps one day hosting professional games there. To learn more about Bahamian baseball, see this Caribbean Journal video.