Pilditch stadium receives green light to officially host international events
“Pilditch stadium was previously in a poor condition, with no international events held there since 2013 due to the quality of the tracks at the time.”
The Pilditch Stadium can now host both international and national athletics events after World Athletics officially certified the sporting facility as a Class 1 athletics facility.
The organisation was formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said he was ecstatic over the stamp of approval by World Athletics after Tshwane invested R34.6-million in refurbishing and upgrading the facility.
“We are pleased and excited to note that the athletics track at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria west has received a Class 1 certification by World Athletics,” Williams said.
At least something good happened under the administration of the @Our_DA
Iyo this stadium was a mess whn we were running here in my primary school days https://t.co/m9wYjtS2vg— Nomzamo manana ❤️ (@KhanyisileMana3) July 19, 2022
“Pilditch stadium was previously in a poor condition, with no international events held there since 2013 due to the quality of the tracks at the time.
“In 2018, the City began work to upgrade the entire facility, including the athletics tracks,” he said.
The stadium was unveiled in October 2021 and has seen inter-high school athletics events hosted by Prestige College take place at the stadium.
Schools across the country have been unable to host sporting events at the facility since it had been out of commission for three years, due to upgrades and refurbishments.
The upgrading of the stadium came after a plea from Athletics South Africa, which indicated the athletics track did not comply with the standards of the World Athletics.
The R34.6-million international standard stadium, formally known as the Western sports field, was originally used as a racecourse and then converted into an agricultural show and sports ground facility from 1910 to 1911.
The newly upgraded stadium includes a synthetic athletics track with related field activities; floodlights; a synthetic practice (warm-up) track; roller-skating track; cycling track; the main pavilion; change rooms; public ablutions; doctor’s room; testing room; physio room; referee’s room; announcement and commentating room; media area and a VIP area with a kitchen and bathrooms.
“The City has ensured value for money with the Pilditch stadium upgrades and quality investment in our sporting infrastructure,” said Williams.
Williams said the facility had always been community-oriented and was used by about 50 athletes on average for training days.
Every year, the facility registered more than 400 members and hosts multiple sporting events.
ALSO READ: Upgrades to the Pilditch stadium paying off
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