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Oleai track to partially open
The Oleai Sports Complex’s track and field facility will be open for public use next week. (Jon Perez)
The Oleai track is set to partially open to the public on Monday, March 19, with the Northern Marianas Sports Association and Northern Marianas Athletics imposing minimal fees to help defray the maintenance cost of the facility.
A $2 fee will be collected from each adult joggers and walkers and $1 from children who are under 12 years old. Individuals who will use the facility must first come to the NMSA office to pay the fees. The track will be open from 8am to 7pm or until before sunset, as lights will be on and are reserved only for the training hours of the CNMI national athletics team or any group or squad that made reservation.
NMA will be the official caretaker of the track and field facility once the memorandum of understanding between the association and NMSA is officially signed sometime next week. Other details of the agreement are being finalized.
The MOU will task NMA to monitor individuals or groups that would use the facility and make sure corresponding fees are paid.
NMA developmental officer Elias Rangamar said they would put up a signboard stating the rules and regulations that should be followed while inside the track facility, and the fees they would be imposing.
“We will strictly implement the rules. There won’t be any free use since we need to keep it in good shape in time for the 2021 [Pacific] Mini Games. Groups, schools, and government agencies can also fill out applications to reserve it,” said Rangamar.
“We also want to ask the parents or any adult that would bring kids to keep an eye on them to avoid any injury or accidents. We will also be strict with the footwear requirement. Cleats are not allowed,” the NMA official said.
Rangamar added that NMA would assign a volunteer to check if fees have been settled and will open only one entrance—the gate near the bleachers.
“A volunteer will monitor the flow of the crowd and make sure they pay first before using the facility. Once we have an idea on how much we may collect every month, then we’ll decide if it would be enough to hire a paid staff,” said Rangamar. “Or we could get a student for the summer, make it a school requirement and hours would be credited.”
