Stadium in a mess ahead of Transplant games
With just four days to go until the World Transplant Games begins in Durban, the Kings Park Athletics Stadium is in a sorry state.
THE World Transplant Games is the biggest organ donor awareness event in the world and has 1800 participants, who have all had a transplant, and the biggest concern for many is hygiene.
One of the main venues of the Games is the Kings Park Athletics Track which will play host to two full day events on Friday 2 August and Saturday 3 August as well as the closing ceremony.
Hundreds of locals and participants are expected to flock to the grounds to watch the prestige event. However they will be greeted with stands that are covered in pigeon faeces, a VIP seating area that has broken chairs and bathrooms that are poorly maintained.
The Kings Park Athletics Stadium was due to undergo an upgrade of R5.5 million, which included a complete revamp of the eight bathrooms on the premises. The Highway Mail went to investigate the grounds two weeks prior to the start of the Games and found that no upgrades had begun on either the track or the Stadium itself.
The silicone lining the sinks in one of the men’s toilets has lifted due to the mould growing under it, the drains surrounding the men’s urinals in the outside toilets are blocked and leaking pipes have been covered with plastic packets.
“The city has a responsibility to maintain the stadia of the city, more so as these venues generate an income for the city and are part of the city’s plans to bring sporting events to the city to boost tourism,” said Martin Meyer, Ward 27 councillor.
