The Guyana National Stadium at Providence is already, in many instances, a multi-sport venue with the hosting of cricket, rugby and football matches there and it will potentially host another discipline as cycling may be taken to the venue in the near future.
The paved track around the stadium, within the stadium compound clould be the new circuit for Guyana’s cyclists according to the chairman of the Finance Committee within the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Brian Allen.
Allen told Stabroek Sport that the National Park could be booted from its position as Guyana’s premier cycling circuit with the completion of the paving exercise that is currently underway at the stadium.
The exercise entails paving the facility’s car park by Dipcon Engineering Com-pany.
Stabroek Sport understands that Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, paid a visit to the Stadium last Friday to observe the progress being made by the contractors and disclosed that when the works are completed the stadium would be more suited for the hosting of shows, fairs and even exhibitions.
In addition, the ministry plans to extend invitations to sports associations including basketball, netball, volleyball, lawn tennis, among others to have them outline the areas respectively for their use.
As the stadium is extending on its multiple purposes, one body in the pipeline to benefit from the paving is the cycling fraternity, Allen explained.
“I approached the ministry about the resurfacing of the National Park, but he recommended the road around the stadium,” Allen revealed.
Cyclists have been complaining about the condition of the inner circuit of the National park, which has two concave drops in the track before and after the finish line and is cracked at certain areas.
Due to this some riders are reluctant to compete in the park which was deemed hazardous during the course of a race.
With this, and the fact that initiating the resurfacing of the park seems to be a delayed process, Allen got on board with the minister’s idea of the use of the Stadium.
“Its wider and the surfaces than the National Park,” Allen stated as he explained why the venue will be better for the hosting of cycle races.
One other advantage he noted is the facility’s lighting which will be beneficial for night cycling.
However, he pointed out that in order for this to happen, the speed humps will have to be removed, turns adjusted and the paved road will have to be extended throughout an area that isn’t paved. The paving exercise which commenced last month is scheduled to be completed by October 27.
