Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr. Daniel Johnson,revealed today at a press briefing for the upcoming IAAF World Relays Bahamas May 24th & May 25th that the National Stadium received level one IAAF Certification. Pictured from left: Lionel Haven, IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014 Local Organizing Committee, Managing Director; Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr. Daniel Johnson;IAAF Council Representative, Golden Girl, Pauline Davis- Thompson. ( Photo / Doyle Rolle)
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Nassau, Bahamas– When the 800 plus athletes from over 40 different countries step on the track at The Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium during this weekend’s highly anticipated International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) World Relays they will be stepping on an IAAF certified class one (1) level track.
The IAAF level one (1) certification for the track was received today according to Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Dr. Daniel Johnson who made the announcement during a press conference. “The track has met the highest standard in the world and we are now certified as a class one (1), grade facility.” he said. “It is the newest track in the world and the fastest track on the planet.”
Last year December, the National Sports Authority (NSA) engaged the services of Mondo out of Italy to reconstruct the proper classified track at the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The original track was the level of class two (2) and to host the IAAF World Relays the track had to meet a class one Minster Johnson said there are three pieces needed to receive a class one certification and the Thomas A. Robinson met all requirements needed.
“Some people think it’s just the surface of the track, but it’s all the support features around the track that gives it class one certification. Class one means you have a performance track, you have another warm up track near the performance track that is 400 meters (m) with all the specs of the performance track and you also need a third streamer to give you the level that we are performing at now,” he said.
Accompanying these three pieces, Minister Johnson said there must also be appropriate bathroom, medical and EMS facilities and a surrounding that can be secured at international standards.
“Everything in the facility has to meet a particular standard and we have met all those standards,” he said.
With just five days left, all of the cosmetic work is being finalized, including the painting of the exterior and the completion of the construction of the concession stand. Fences have also been erected separating the track and the spectator areas.
Adjacent to the new stadium, workmen can also be seen updating the facilities within the old Thomas A. Robinson (TAR) stadium. The straight away warm up facility on the outside has been expanded and there is a lot of green space being completed around the two stadiums.
IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Managing Director, Lionel Haven said the LOC is very confident that the work will be completed in time for the big event. “We are not operating on a 9 a.m. to 5p.m. clock. We have our service providers working around the clock and we are pretty confident that what needs to be done will be done in time,” Haven said.
The IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014 will take place on May 24th & May 25th. The world's top athletes are expected to be in action in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators.
