US$1-m for Stadium
RESURFACING work on the nation’s two main synthetic tracks located at Independence Park Complex (IPL) is set to begin early in the new year following the securing of US$1 million (J$89 million) by the Jamaican Government from its Singapore counterpart and the private sector.
Sports Minister Olivia Grange, who recently travelled to Singapore with a delegation which included Olympic medallists Veronica Campbell-Brown and Asafa Powell, as well as World Youth and World Junior 100 champion Dexter Lee, confirmed the completion of the deal in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer on Friday.
“I did consummate the deal and I came back with (money for) two tracks. I came up with sponsorship for the warm-up track and sponsorship for the main track,” Grange said.
The deal is a barter arrangement, which involves Jamaica helping Singapore to market the inaugural Youth Olympics, set for next summer.
Both parties started negotiating following the 2008 Beijing Olympics where Jamaica secured a record 11 medals — six gold, three silver and two bronze.
The talks were initiated though Jamaica’s trade commission in Singapore under the leadership of Dr Aloysius Tay.
The Observer first reported in January this year that the Stadium East track, which is used by the Jamaica’s top local Senior and Junior athletes to prepare for international competition, was in a deplorable state.
The main track, which was also laid at the National Stadium ahead of the World Junior Championships in 2002, is also deteriorating.
Minister Grange disclosed that Intersurface Pte Limited, the Singaporean company that installed the track for the Youth Olympics set for August 14-26 next year in that country, would undertake the work in Jamaica.
Intersurface Pte Limited got the nod over four other companies, including German-based Regupol and Mondo Incorporated out of the United States, who also submitted bids to the Government.
“The Singapore company had to be used because we were getting a better deal and the Singapore entity that is picking up the cost wanted a Singapore company to be used,” Grange said, noting that other nations like China and Japan make similar requests when they are providing funds for projects.
“The only difference is that this is not a loan, it’s a gift,” she explained.
According to the proposed schedule under the agreement, the Stadium East track will be refurbished over a two-month period of February 1 and March 31.
“We’re going to start with the Stadium East track… we want to get that done as quickly as possible so that the speed training can begin for our elite athletes, so we’re going to do that and get that out of the way,” Grange explained, noting that Intersurface Pte Limited will begin shipping the materials this week.
“It should be completed by the fourth week in March, so we’re going to have everybody use the inside track while this work is going on, so it’s not going to delay anything,” she said.
Work on the main track at the National Stadium is set to start in the second week May following the seventh staging of the Jamaica International Invitational, and end by the first week of July.
Minister Grange has been assured that Intersurface Pte Limited is recognised by track and field’s world governing body.
“They have IAAF certification, so they match up with the others (companies submitted bids) and we have consulted with the coaches and the JAAA’s (Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association), so they’re satisfied that this company will provide the level of work,” Grange disclosed.
The tracks will have a five-year shelf life.