Grange assures February completion of stadium track

 Sports Minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, has assured that the new running track at the National Stadium will be fully installed by the end of February.

In a statement released from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports to the media yesterday evening, Grange said: "After years of service, helping to build up Jamaica's reputation in track and field, the running track at the National Stadium must be replaced. We are now in the process of replacing the old track with a new, modern, top-rated surface. It will be an IAAF Class One rated track - one of few in the world.

"We designed a schedule for repairs to ensure that our national athletics programme would not be adversely affected while we undertook the necessary work at the National Stadium. However, there have been some delays which have caused understandable anxiety across the country," she added.

Only last week, organisers of one major track and field meet, the Gibson Relays, stated that they would cancel their event, which was slated for Saturday, February 26.

However, Grange said her ministry would do everything in its power to complete installation by that time and ensure "that none of our major local track and field events will have to be cancelled this year".

Problems evolved initially because the ship - journeying from Antwerp, Belgium - taking the material for the laying of the new track had been delayed for several weeks because of the bad weather affecting Europe.

Grange's statement noted that the ship eventually set sail on Monday and is expected to arrive in Kingston on Tuesday, January 22.

Further, the minister said: "We have been in discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, which is helping to ensure that there are no delays in the clearing of the shipment.

"Additionally, the suppliers have agreed to bring in additional installation tools and to increase the labour force to meet our February deadline.

"Barring occurrences over which we have no control, the work will be completed and the new track at the National Stadium will be ready for use by the end of February," Grange promised.