Gweru (The Times-New Ziana) -Plans are underway to construct a state-of-the-art athletics field at Gweru Sports Club which will have a modern tartan track, an official has said.
Apart from hosting national athletics competitions, the field will also host regional and international competitions.
GSC chairperson John Makubalo said they are elated to have such a development following similar work at the soccer pitch and squash courts.
“We are happy as Gweru Sports Club and as Midlands Province that we have the first of its kind athletics field, the tartan track.
“Currently there are only two tartan tracks in the country that is in Harare and Bulawayo,” he said.
Makubalo said they would this week host the contractor to check on the final things and present the type of the rubber that they want to use.
“After that, we will liaise with the regulator which is the Sport and Recreation Commission, and the Zimbabwe Athletics Board.
“Once we finalise there, probably the construction should kick start in January,” he said.
Makubalo said the first stage for laying out the tartan track and the field should take about a year, thereafter terracing, changing rooms and other ablution facilities will be done.
The field, he said will have International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards that will accommodate all track and fields events.
He said there will be the B Arena for practicing before athletes go into the main arena for competition, which will also have a soccer field.
“It is going to be divided into the main arena, which is the main stadium for athletics and the B Arena,” he said.
Makubalo said all sectors of the economy in Gweru are expected to benefit as the convergence of athletes for national, regional and international competitions, will have a boom in tourism, retail industry, clubs, and transport among others.
The hosting of international competitions will give youths exposure thereby spurring the growth of athletics in Gweru and surrounding towns.
Gweru has in the past failed to host national competitions like premier soccer league matches owing to lack of standard sporting facilities.
The Times- New Ziana
