Work starts on Stadium East track.

SPORTS MINISTER Olivia Grange says she is pleased that work to install a new track at Stadium East in the Independence Park complex started yesterday as previously announced.

Grange spoke from Stadium East, where grading work started to remove the old track, which will be replaced by a new Regupol running track.

“We have started on schedule and we hope to finish on schedule in February, just ahead of the staging of the Gibson McCook track and field meet,” she said.

“Today, as we start the process to replace this track, we must remember that Stadium East has provided the training ground for some of Jamaica’s top-class athletes, including the legendary Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, among others. Indeed, it may have nurtured and produced the best athletes in the world.

“I must express gratitude to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for their level of cooperation with my ministry to make this project a reality.”

Grange added that the ministry hopes to put in new running tracks in central and eastern Jamaica in the next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the contractor on the project, Peter Breuer, director of export at BSW, Germany, said that the company is creating history in Jamaica by using newly developed durable material at the request of the minister. The material will also be used for other locations in Jamaica.

Regupol running tracks, which are manufactured in accordance with the IAAF’s quality standards, are suitable for international professional sports, as well as for school and popular sports.

CONTRIBUTED Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange (right) examines a piece of the old turf at Stadium East as work got under way yesterday to remove the old track, which will be replaced by a new Regupol track. The track is scheduled to be ready for use before the end of February. Explaining to the minister the process for changing the track is Peter Breuer (centre), director of export, BSW, Germany, while Major Desmon Brown, general manager, Independence Park Limited, looks on.