The National Stadium’s track has now officially been certified as a Class One facility by World Athletics, bringing an end, at least on the certification question, to weeks of uncertainty surrounding the status of Jamaica’s premier athletics venue. Independence Park Limited and the Government of Jamaica are now in possession of the official certification from track and field’s world governing body, confirming that the National Stadium Track meets the requirements for Class One certification.
According to a copy of the document, the certification is valid from June 2026 to March 2031. The certificate lists the synthetic surface products as Rekortan and REGUPOL Germany. The track was re-topped by manufacturer Rekortan between February 26 and March 3, 2025.
The certification saga intensified after Sports Minister Olivia Grange announced in Parliament on June 30, during her contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate, that the National Stadium’s upgraded track had received Class One certification from World Athletics. However, questions were raised in August when Jamaica’s National Stadium did not appear on the World Athletics Certification System’s List of Certified Facilities, published on August 7.
The list identified 116 Class One facilities around the world, including the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago, but Jamaica’s National Stadium was not among those listed. That omission prompted Opposition spokesperson on Labour and Sports, Wavell Hinds, to challenge the government to provide proof of the certification.
On August 11, Hinds questioned how the government could maintain that the stadium had been certified when Jamaica was absent from World Athletics’ published list. Hinds called on Minister Grange to produce the official certificate and explain the apparent discrepancy.
Among the information he wanted clarified were the exact date of certification, the certificate number, issue date and validity period, as well as the reason Jamaica’s National Stadium was absent from the World Athletics list if the certification was valid.
The answers to his question would then surface on August 21, when Grange posted a photograph of herself holding what appeared to be the official World Athletics certification. The document confirms that the National Stadium Track is certified as a Class One facility, with the certification period running from June 2026 to March 2031.
The certificate now provides documentary confirmation of the government’s earlier claim that the stadium had achieved Class One status. With the certification in place, performances recorded on the certified track, including qualifying standards and records, should now be eligible for official recognition, subject to the applicable World Athletics rules.
Despite the Class One certification, another issue has emerged from the certificate. The steeplechase facility at the National Stadium is not covered by the certification. The document specifically indicates that the steeplechase section is excluded. It is understood that the exclusion relates to the facility not meeting certain World Athletics technical requirements, including aspects of its layout or other applicable technical rules.
This means that while the main National Stadium track has achieved Class One certification, the certification does not extend to the steeplechase facility. The distinction is important because Class One certification is not simply a designation for the entire stadium. It is based on whether the relevant athletics facilities meet World Athletics’ technical standards.
While questions remain over why the stadium was initially absent from that list and why the steeplechase facility was excluded, the official certificate now establishes that the National Stadium Track itself has been certified as a World Athletics Class One facility through to March 2031. The Class One certification strengthens the venue’s standing internationally and provides greater certainty for athletes seeking qualifying performances and records.
