How will it compare to Kenya’s Nyayo & Kasarani?

Jamaica has closed the National Stadium for renovation ahead of key events and just like Kenya, millions are being spent with a view of giving the sporting facilities a new face.

Jamaica is in a race against time to get the National Stadium in Kingston ready for two main events coming up in a few weeks.

The Caribbean nation’s main sporting arena has been closed for a major facelift targeting its running surface.

Known to have shaped the careers of many world beating sprinters from Jamaica, the National Stadium’s renovation is primarily focused on the re-laying of its running track and it has to be ready before March 25, when the country will host its biggest school championships.

As per Athletics Jamaica, the relaying of the tartan track encompasses the eight-lane track, high jump, javelin, pole vault, and long and triple jump runways and when done, it will reflect the colours of the national flag, being green, black and yellow.

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According to Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor, the renovation work will cost US$350,000 (Ksh45.2 million) and will be done by a local firm Rekortan.

Unlike Kenya, where there is a total revamp of the country’s two main stadiums Nyayo and Kasarani, the Kingston National Stadium renovation will only focus on the running track.

Kenya is preparing a number of stadiums to be used for the CHAN 2024 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and it will be a costly affair for the country.

That would explain why the cost of the renovation work in the two countries is worlds apart.

In Kenya, the renovation of Kasarani will cost Ksh2.4 billion, while the upgrading of Nyayo will set the state back Ksh1.2 billion. This amount is largely gobbled up by the upgrades needed on the football infrastructure rather than the running track as is the case in Jamaica.

The Kenyan government is yet to give a breakdown on what each section will cost to upgrade but the dressing rooms, stands, lights, pitch and canopy are among the costly items as the renovation is designed to prepare the two stadiums for the 2024 African Nations Championships and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Phase II of renovations at Kasarani Stadium are making fine progress ahead of the April deadline.

Meanwhile in Jamaica, the stadium is supposed to be ready just in time for the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, considered the world’s largest high school event, slated from March 25-29.

Then there is the inaugural Grand Slam Track, spearheaded by American sprint legend Michael Johnson, which will begin with the first of the four legs in Kingston between April 4 and 6, before it moves to Miami, Philadelphia and conclude in Los Angeles.

Grand Slam Track has attracted global superstars such as Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek among others.

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One thing that Jamaican and Kenyan athletes share owing to the stadia renovations is that they currently lack a place to train from and will be hoping that the timelines given are adhered to before the track season gathers steam.