BASSETERE, St. Kitts - THE Silver Jubilee Stadium is about to get a facelift as the track at the facility is currently being resurfaced, following its rapid degeneration.
Speaking with Senior Sports Officer in the Ministry of Sports, Vernon Springer stated that the upgrading of the track would benefit the people of St. Kitts and Nevis in many ways.
“St. Kitts and Nevis has produced a world champion in Kim Collins and we have also produced world class athletes in Tiandra Ponteen, Virgil Hodge and Antione Adams. The list is long, so with this track the tradition for sprinting in St. Kitts and Nevis will continue for a very long time.”
He said that 2013 would be a very hectic year for sports in the Federation and the stadium must maintain its status as a world class facility to continue attracting foreign athletes and boost the Tourism Industry.
“The onus is on the St. Kitts Sports Department to support the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association (SKNAAA) to make sure you have a world class facility. We are putting ourselves in a position to host another CARIFTA Games and, like in 2012, an OECS Invitational. So there are a number of sporting opportunities and we are hoping to attract federations like Athletics Canada to St. Kitts and Nevis for winter training. This is something that could bring major benefits for St. Kitts in terms of tourism.”
Springer also disclosed that the Ministry of Sports is currently negotiating with Athletics Canada to set up a calendar of events where they could come to St. Kitts and Nevis and train.
“They are going to adopt St. Kitts and Nevis as their training base for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio Brazil, and maybe we can attract other countries.”
Springer stated that the original track was damaged and the cost of having it resurfaced would be borne by the company from which it was bought.
He added that tests were carried out by Mondo, the leading company in the rubber flooring industry and from which the track was bought, and the warranty is still in existence.
“As you know, the original track was under warranty and because of the damage, Mondo itself done a number of tests and they are still trying to find out what went wrong and what happened. But Mondo consented and, also with the help with the SKNAAA, we were able to rationalise and see what is happening. A Mondo track is expected to last 15 to 20 years and it is not even 10 years yet and you have such wear and tear.”
Springer declared that by the end of February “we will have a brand new blue and grey track at the Silver Jubilee Stadium”.
Speaking with an official from Mondo who is currently overseeing work being at the Stadium, he stated that though the sun gets very hot the job is progressing very well.
He also stated that they would complete the removal of the old track by Sunday (Feb. 10) and start the placing of the new one by next week.
The entire operation is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
