Oleai track waiting for IAAF certification

The newly resurfaced Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility awaits certification from the International Association of Athletics Federation. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The newly resurfaced Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility is still waiting for certification from the International Association of Athletics Federation.

Tony Rogolifoi, executive director of Northern Marianas Sports Association, which oversees the management and maintenance of the Oleai track, said an inspector from Australia was on island late last month to check the facility. He added that Bob Jones inspected the markings and turf of the track along with the other components of the renovated facility. The Aussie will then prepare a long report and submit it to IAAF for review, while another inspector may visit Saipan later this month.

“There’s a lot of paper work to be done before we get the certification. I was told it will take about two months to complete the process,” Rogolifoi said in an interview with Saipan Tribune last week.

According to IAAF rules, each application for certification must have full details of the product (track) including materials and technical drawings, while samples of the materials used should be tested by laboratories recognized by the international governing body in athletics. There are also instances that an IAAF nominated inspector will conduct another site inspection of the facility.

An IAAF certification is necessary for a group—the Northern Marianas Athletics in the CNMI’s case—to hold a high-level competition sanctioned by IAAF or its member federations. Last month, the Commonwealth was awarded the hosting rights for the 2018 Micronesian Athletics Championships, while the Pacific Mini Games will also take place here in 2021. The IAAF certification is a must to also ensure the safety of the athletes and the integrity of their performances. The Oleai track used to be a Level II certified facility before it deteriorated and failed to meet the world standards.

“We’re positive we will get the certification back. The contractor is doing the final finishing touches of the facility, working on the fence and railings,” Rogolifoi said.

“We would like to remind the public that the track is still closed, so we’re asking for more patience from them. We may re-open the facility late in August. Until then, please cooperate with us. We all want to get the track back, but not at the expense of the public’s safety,” the NMSA official added.

Meanwhile, Rogolifoi disclosed that the process seeking for repairs of the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield, the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield, and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium is ongoing and the agency in charge for facilitating the release of the funds for these projects are aiming to get the work done all at once. Funds are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were made available after these facilities sustained significant damage from Typhoon Soudelor that hit Saipan in August 2015.