New track for 2024

By next January, the National Stadium should have a spanking new athletic track with a new world-class facility constructed shortly after.

And once it is completed, Minister of Sports, Charles Griffith is of the view there will be no need for local athletes to train overseas and improved international performances will follow.

During a press conference at the National Stadium on Friday afternoon, Griffith revealed that a high-level technical team of experts from China is on island to assess the work needed to replace the aging and worn out track, as well as to construct a state-of-the-art facility at the Waterford, St Michael venue.

Griffith said it was expected that work would commence in the “next couple of months”.

He said Phase One, which will see the installation of a new track, should be completed by January 2024.

The Sports Minister made it clear that the project was being financed through grant funding from China.

The news comes just three months after Barbados and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to construct a new stadium.

“The technical team from China came in to do all of the necessary preparation related to the construction of the National Stadium. They have architects here, they have engineers here, all of the best of China are here to ensure that we have a facility, at least Phase One, by January 2024.

“It is expected that the initial phase of the project will involve the demolition of the structure here as we know it and then the start date would be dependent on that…. The first phase is January 2024; that is what we are pushing for and, if all things are equal, that is the date we are looking to have athletes on the track,” Griffith said.

While he could not give a specific date for when the entire project would be finished, the Sports Minister gave the assurance it would be a world-class facility when completed.

As a result, he said he expected the practice of Barbadian athletes travelling overseas to train would soon come to an end.

Furthermore, Griffith said he expected increased “podium finishes”.

“I want to say to the public, as well, that we are getting a new stadium and it cannot be after a stadium is put in place that you are saying to us that our athletes now still have to go to a country outside of Barbados in order to be trained, because if the stadium was a problem the stadium is being fixed.

“So, I would expect that coaches on island who are involved in track and other disciplines would now step up to the plate where, with a new facility, we do not have to send anyone to Jamaica, we do not have to send anyone to other places because we have the coaches at the level to take our athletes to podium, and that is critical,” Griffith said.

“I’ve heard the cry, Government would have heard the cry in terms of the need for a National Stadium. I acknowledge and agree that we need a new stadium, but with a new stadium in place then let’s ensure that we can have podium finishes as a result of our athletes being coached right here in Barbados.”

Minister Griffith said while it was hoped that a FIFA-approved football pitch could be installed at the new stadium, it was not an immediate priority.

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb