It's a soggy, muggy day in Greater Sudbury and I'm at the Laurentian University Track, waiting to speak to some athletes.
I have arrived early and no one is in sight, just some Canadian
geese, foraging at the centre of the field.
It doesn't take me long, staring at the dilapidated track,
to wonder why the facility has gone down the drain.
I take a leisurely stroll around to get a feel for the once
proud complex.
Cracks, holes, bumps and torn up pieces, the track is a
terrible mess.
I shake my head in total disbelief when I think about all
the local and out-of-town young athletes that have raced here
before, pushing their limits on this worn surface.
It's hard to believe that the best junior athletes once competed here for global glory at the World Junior Championships in 1988.
Yet, despite the track's current conditions, the City of
Greater Sudbury is still churning out elite athletes in the
world of track.
It shows the will of the human spirit is mightier than an
environment when it comes to producing great talent.
But then again, the athletes aren't the problem, it's the
facility.
This athletic landmark needs to be refurbished or renovated
to bring it back to top-notch condition. The track is situated
on the grounds of Laurentian University but it's owned by the
municipality.
Just recently I read several stories about the Timmins
Regional Athletics Centre and Soccer Complex and was completely
blown away.
Here's a city with a population of about 44,000 people and
they have constructed a beautiful, state-of-the-art track and
soccer facility. They had the official grand opening on July 26
and Jim Watson, the Ontario Minister of Health Promotion, was
on hand for the festivities.
Construction was completed last year and the new complex has
been a huge boon to the city and local athletes.
Already, Timmins has hosted the Royal Canadian Legion
Ontario Track and Field Championships, a regional Special
Olympics event and an OFSAA soccer championship.
As the months roll by, who knows how many more major events
Timmins will get because of its new track.
The city could end up hosting events that could be contested
in Sudbury, but why would event organizers choose a run down
track over a new one that shows pride of ownership.
The people in Timmins who worked to get the new facility
(former high school students and representatives from various
track and soccer associations) should be commended for their
efforts, especially considering the hoops they had to jump
through and the time they dedicated to the effort.
It was a project six years in the making and they did it
with a little help from the government. The final cost was $4.6
million, with the Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation kicking in
$2.1 million and FedNor tossing in $500,000.
If Timmins can do it, then so can Sudbury. It's that simple.
Sudbury already has the foundation, so we don't even have to
start from scratch.
A new track could further propel local athletes, such
Rebecca Johnston and Celine Loyer, into another realm and help
them realize their dreams. There are hundreds of local young
athletes that would benefit from a new track, let alone other
members of this community.
It would be great to see another world championship come to
the Nickel City, but it will never happen until the track gets
a face-lift.
I know, it's always easier said than done, but this city has
shown, time after time, it can come together for a common goal.
This is a situation that has lingered long enough and I hope people will start to take action.
