Flood Lights for Warner Park while Jubilee Stadium gets new track

SKNIS Photo: The track at the Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium before rapid deterioration. Both local and Mondo officials are puzzled why the track deteriorated after five years.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 01, 2013 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is preparing to commence two improvement projects to ensure that major sporting facilities remain a preferred venue for regional and international events.

On Thursday, Minister of Sports Honourable Glenn Phillip told members of the press that the first project involved the upgrading of the lighting capabilities at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium.

“I know there has been a lot of talk in the press lately about a regional one-day competition and certainly St. Kitts and Nevis will be putting [itself] in a position to be a part of this … series,” he revealed, “… The Cabinet, my colleagues, have approved a lighting [project] at the Warner Park stadium which will be starting shortly.”

Work will also commence soon on the Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium which will see a new track being laid to replace the current one installed in February 2008.

“Over the past couple of months, the track at the Silver Jubilee Stadium has been [deteriorating] from wear and tear,” the Minister shared, “and so we have gotten a new track from Mondo, free of cost ….”

Mondo was involved in the laying of the original track. The company is widely considered a world leader in rubber flooring and provided the track used in the London 2012 Games.

President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) Glen Jeffers told SKNIS that his association worked closely with the Government to ensure the track was replaced. He revealed that the eroding conditions of the track have hindered local athletes from using stadium. However, the inconvenience is somewhat of a blessing in disguise as a two tone (coloured) track will be used to replace the current single coloured one.

Mr. Jeffers explained that this will be helpful for younger sprinters and beginners who now can focus on staying in the blue lane or the grey lane.

The replacement track is expected to be laid in the coming weeks.