Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley toured the Hasely Crawford Stadium and received a progress report regarding the ongoing refurbishment works at the facility on Friday.
The Hasely Crawford Stadium will host the athletics segment of the 2023 Commonwealth Games which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from August 4th-11th.
The refurbishment works at the stadium will see the resurfacing of asphalted areas, electrical and plumbing repairs, improved lighting, the replacement of the scoreboard as well as external repairs.
The Hasely Crawford Stadium features:
– 23,000 seating capacity
– An eight-lane 400m synthetic Class 1 track certified by World Athletics, with runways for the triple jump and long jump
– Eight changing rooms
– Two gyms
– Training field building and track
Dr Rowley was accompanied on the tour by the Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications, Symon de Nobriga and the Chairman of the Urban Development Corp of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd., Mr Noel Garcia.
Cudjoe said: “We are still carded for the June 30th completion date, we want to do trials in July and not only for this facility but other facilities, we are all aiming for a completion date of June 30th. So far, UDeCOTT has gotten to about 80 per cent completion. So far so good, we are still within the 80-million-dollar budget.”
She added, “Udecott intends to ramp up as it relates to the working hours and getting more persons on board to ensure that we meet the deadline.”
She said she is especially pleased with the track, “because that was an area of concern for us.
“We brought in World Athletics and specialists to come to see what we have here and to guide us in restoring the track. So I’m happy we were able to do that.
“The scoreboard came in last night, we’re doing the works with the seats…So I feel quite pleased that Hasely Crawford Stadium, just 41 years old, as old as I am, is going to have that full overhaul or full refurbishment, and be restored to its former glory.”
She said the restoration will be a plus not only for the upcoming game,s but for all sports.
WATCH the Prime Minister as he tours the Hasely Crawford Stadium: