A statue will be built in honour of Bermuda’s only Olympic medallist Clarence Hill, a plan will be implemented to revitalise sports clubs and St. George’s Golf Club will be reopened.Those were the promises made by Government in yesterday’s Throne Speech read by Governor George Fergusson at the Cabinet Building.Additionally, parish councils will create Hall of Fames “to celebrate past sporting heroes”.Entitled ‘Let Us Build One Another, Together’, the speech made mention of several sporting initiatives, noting “sport has always been a vital part of Bermuda’s history, and continues to be the bridge that unifies the country as a people, bringing youth, families and communities together with humility and pride.”However, the honour to be bestowed on Hill may court controversy, given his criminal record.It was at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal that the heavyweight boxer won a bronze medal, a feat that has never been matched in the Island’s long Olympic history.In a Games that was boycotted by almost all African nations, Hill won two bouts before losing in the semi-finals. But already he had been assured the bronze having reached the semis.He was later to turn professional with moderate success after which his life spiralled downwards as he was convicted of several crimes and spent time in jail.It has yet to be determined where the bronze statue will be located but, according to Government, “it is simply the right thing to do.”Meanwhile, an announcement will be made soon on the implementation of a National Sports policy “which will include Government assistance in the revitalisation of sports clubs to become community hubs, recognise the importance of sports at all levels, up to and including regional and international competition.”The Speech emphasised that Government were committed to supporting clubs as part of a “wider community outreach, since our sports clubs are a magnet for young people and youth development.”A multi-year funding plan will be devised to help clubs with their infrastructure and help them become self-sustaining.St. George’s Golf Club was closed in 2008 following the demolition of the derelict Club Med.Plans were then made for a championship course, to be designed by Nick Faldo, which would complement a new Hyatt hotel on the Club Med site.But ground has yet to be broken on the hotel and the course has become overgrown and unfit for play.Government say they will now “set a concrete date” for the reopening, “and ensure that only Bermudians will be employed in landscaping the course and managing the concessions.”The Hall of Fame plan will see each parish “celebrate past sporting heroes, and all Olympians and Paralympians past and present.”Those selected will be “honoured with bricks bearing their names in the walkway at the National Sports Centre.”Government said they recognised “in spite of Bermuda’s small size, her people have excelled in the international sports arena.“Government will continue to invest in sports in a way that will also create better links with past and present sportsmen who have brought the country to where it stands today in global sporting areas.”Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert announced that half a million dollars would be put aside to bring “an additional 14 weeks of crowd-drawing sports festivals to the Island over the next three to five years.”