The Free State Athletics Stadium in Bloemfontein is in need of renovation after the stadium lost its international certification from World Athletics, the regulatory body responsible for ensuring international stadium standards.
“All stadiums in the world have an expiry date in terms of the classification status that World Athletics gives,” explained Steven Swarts of Athletics Free State (AFS). “That duration is normally ten years, after which you have to apply for recertification and meet the strict standards that World Athletics sets.”
This is the situation the stadium is in now. Upgrades are needed to recertify and restore the track’s national and international status.
“The stadium is not safe at the moment as we are still waiting for upgrades and resurfacing of some parts of the tartan track,” Swarts added. “This includes upgrading the electronic timing system for matches.”
According to Swarts, the stadium has deteriorated over time due to lack of maintenance and poor drainage. However, he adds that all athletics tracks and stadiums wear out over time and require frequent preventative maintenance to prevent deterioration.
The decision by the International Athletics Federation to revoke the stadium’s status has left local athletes without facilities and a huge gap in the city’s sports infrastructure. “Without certification, especially safety certification, no athletic event can be held in the stadium,” Swarts explained.
“This means that no athlete can train or participate to qualify for a provincial, national or international competition. Hosting provincial and national events cannot take place, which has a huge impact on staffing and attracting sponsors.”
Swarts stated that there are plans to repair the deficiencies in the stadium and said that the Mangaung Metro Municipality has appointed a project team to address the infrastructure issues of the stadium. However, AFS is waiting for a schedule for the start of these repairs. “There are no set timelines,” Swarts explained.
“However, we have also reached out to the private sector to help resolve the situation in the stadium. We need to act quickly as we are hosting the U.13 National Championship in December.”
The Free State Athletics Stadium is one of two stadiums in South Africa that are certified to host international events and it is hoped that the stadium will soon meet that standard again.
Warren Hawkins
Bloemfontein Courant
www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za
