THE National Stadium East facility, which has been resurfaced at a cost of $42 million, was officially reopened yesterday for competition by Natalie Neita-Headley, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister.

The newly laid surface is part of the government mandate through its agency, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), to improve sporting facilities islandwide.

“Track and field is one of those achievements which makes us proud to be Jamaicans. Experts believe that our terrain, diet and predominant African heritage predispose us to produce the type of talented athletes that the world has come to know,” said Neita-Headley.

“For me, what is important is our ability as a nation to hone the natural talents of our athletes, right here in Jamaica. That’s why the reopening of the Stadium East track is such a significant achievement today,” she added.

Following close to two years of delay, work on the track, which was in a deplorable condition, started last December under the supervision of German company BSW Regupol.

Major Desmon Brown, general manager of Independence Park Limited, was pleased with the speed at which the resurfacing was done with only a few signs left to be put in place and he used the opportunity to remind coaches and athletes to take good care of the track.

“What we actually did was rub the surface down to the base and imported some special machines with diamond tips, and this was done early December,” noted Brown.

“We have some signage to do, reminding athletes to wear the proper length of spikes. If they use grass spikes, it will damage the surface.

“We have notices that will remind coaches and athletes; we have one person put in charge of that — to do nothing, but check spikes. Sometimes athletes believe that if they use a longer spikes they will get an advantage; they get none. All they do is tear up the track,” he reiterated.

Major Brown also noted that the drainage system has also been improved to facilitate heavy rains.

“What a lot of people don’t know is that under the surface there is a massive drainage network, that is why no matter how heavy it rains, in 20 minutes we can have a track meet,” he pointed out.

Dr Warren Blake, president of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) and chairman of the SDF, said this is an effort to provide the tools that will enable the athletes to train safely and perform at the highest level.

“In 2011 the Foundation embarked on a programme to improve the running surfaces at the National Stadium. The first phase saw the Mondo track inside the main stadium being replaced with an IAAF level 1 running track at a cost of $77.989m.

“Phase II of this work has now been completed. The Stadium East track has now been resurfaced at a cost of $42.991m,” he noted.

“That amount combined represents the largest project ever undertaken by the SDF at a single venue — a combined total of $120.9m,” said Dr Blake.

This significant investment was initiated under the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government and has been completed by the ruling People National Party (PNP).

“In the same way that good nutrition and training are important components to athletes’ development, I believe that having quality… warm-up surfaces are equally important for their success,” said Neita-Headley.