Kim Collins Stadium reopens with Level 2 Certification after major overhaul

Delaney says new surface a boost for young athletes

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — AFTER two years of renovations, the Kim Collins Athletics Stadium has officially reopened, putting an end to a period of disruption that saw the national scholastic championships relocated and the project criticized publicly and politically.

The refurbished facility was reintroduced to the public on Saturday (Jul. 12) with a primary school-level track event hosted by the Ministry of Sports and the government — a symbolic restart focused on nurturing the nation’s youngest athletes.

Delwayne Delaney, President of St. Kitts-Nevis Athletics, welcomed the long-awaited reopening, emphasizing its importance for youth development across the Federation.

Despite a modern Mondo track being available in Nevis, Delaney pointed out that Kim Collins Stadium remains the most recognized athletics venue in the country.

"To have a certified track holds well for track and field. It holds well for our athletes, not only in St. Kitts but also in Nevis, given the options and the ability to move from one facility to another,” he said.

With the stadium back in operation, the federation expects to revive and even expand its calendar of events. The junior championships were cancelled this year due to the stadium’s closure, but Delaney is optimistic that the reopening will lead to a more robust schedule in the upcoming season.

“We know that having a facility of this sort will assist the up-and-coming young talent that we have,” he noted.

While the upgraded stadium is now certified at Level 2 — slightly below its previous status — Delaney pushed back against concerns that this represented a significant downgrade.

He explained that the Level 2 certification still meets international standards, and more importantly, the new surface is gentler on athletes’ bodies.

"To have a certified track holds well for track and field. It holds well for our athletes, not only in St. Kitts but also in Nevis, given the options and the ability to move from one facility to another,” he said.

“...The different levels just mean what events can be held at the stadium, which means that we won't be able to hold, say, a World Championships, simply because different things need to be in.”

Delaney also pointed out that other renowned athletics nations, such as Jamaica, operate with Level 2-certified tracks. He emphasized that while the stadium can't host certain elite global events, it remains fully capable of supporting local and regional competitions.