Is about time, them track had sink and bumps in some areas.
INSPECTION: Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, third from left, and other officials on a walkabout at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima on Tuesday. The stadium is one of four facilities having upgrades done to its track and football field.
New technologies and materials will form an integral part of the upgrade of local stadiums being managed by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT).
At a site visit to the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima on Tuesday, Minister of Sport Anil Roberts said he was pleased with the progress of works, and was enthusiastic about the final product being utilised by athletes in the near future.
Works are being conducted simultaneously at the "Larry Gomes" and Marabella's Manny Ramjohn Stadium, and involve complete renewals of the playing surfaces. Contractor for the field surfaces Pooran and Amzad Ogeer Maintenance has completely replaced the old field, filling with a coarse sand imported from Guyana that should allow for better filtration and reduce surface run-off.
Additionally, the grass to be used is Celebration Bermuda grade, which is more resistant to local weather conditions and other environmental factors that cause deterioration, such as mole crickets and weeds.
According to Anthony Blake, facilities manager at SPORTT, 80 per cent of the works at the two venues are complete and should be ready for us in approximately eight weeks. Blake also revealed that the track upgrades at both facilities, as well as Tobago's Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet are also within schedule.
The Arima and Marabella facilities will be furnished with IAAF certified surfaces, which can be used primarily for training purposes, while the Ato Boldon and Dwight Yorke tracks will be IAAF Class 2 certified and therefore suitable for elite international events.
The contractor providing services on the tracks is Advance Performance Technologies, who are expected to deliver the finished product at all the facilities in approximately ten weeks. Blake explained that works to the track are in the first phase, with the old track being removed and the surface being prepared to receive the synthetic layer. Drainage works to the perimeter of the field, where it meets the track, are also to be done. SPORTT recently completed works on the Hasely Crawford Stadium to prepare the Mucurapo venue for athletic events, a mere two weeks after a hectic Carnival season. The first event at the venue, the Carifta trials, went smoothly with no delays as a result of inadequate facilities.
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