A new synthetic athletics track meeting international standards will be constructed in Hulhumale', with work scheduled to begin next month, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Abdulla Rafiu has said.
Speaking on PSM’s “Ahaa” forum, Minister Rafiu said the existing synthetic track in Hulhumale' Phase One had deteriorated, resulting in difficulties for athletes.
The Hulhumale' synthetic track was constructed during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. However, the synthetic surface has since deteriorated, prompting the Sports Ministry to address the issue, the Minister said.
He said the existing track in Hulhumale' was not built to international standards. As a result, even if athletes record times on the track, those performances cannot be officially recognised under World Athletics rules, which require records to be set on tracks meeting standards approved by World Athletics.
The Minister said the replacement track would meet World Athletics standards.
He said the existing synthetic surface would be completely replaced and the track rebuilt, with physical work scheduled to begin on 1 October and expected to be completed by January next year.
“We need to build the track to a standard recognised by World Athletics, so that the results achieved by our athletes can be recognised. Therefore, we have to replace the entire synthetic surface and rebuild the track. We will begin the work from the first of next month,” Minister Rafiu said.
The Minister added that efforts were also under way to upgrade the synthetic track in Malé to international standards.