IT will cost US$7.5 million (about J$600m) to develop the ‘Usain Bolt stadium’ at the University of the West Indies (UWI) into a fully-functioning world-class facility, says sports development director at the Mona-based institution, Grace Jackson.

The blue track, which was a gift from the German company BSW Regupol to Bolt following his world record 100m and 200m runs on a similar surface at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, was opened just over a year ago, but to date no permanent supporting facilities have been installed.

Speaking at the Monday Exchange at the Observer’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters yesterday, Jackson said she is now on a drive to raise the funds to upgrade the facility, which would include 10,000 permanent seats, scoreboard, lights, offices and weights room.

“[They need] everything that is world class, because it is a worldclass facility,” Jackson stated.

The UWI Usain Bolt Track is based at the Mona Bowl for Sporting Excellence, which also houses the Frank Worrell cricket ground, football fields, swimming pool, as well as tennis and indoor courts at the UWI, Mona.

The track, which is one of only five synthetic surfaces in the island, has since the start of the year hosted several local development meets as well as the NACAC Combined Events Challenge because of the degradation or unavailability of the other surfaces which are usually used for such events.

Temporary seating and portable toilets had to be utilised for those meets to be staged.

The other all-weather running tracks are at the National Stadium, Stadium East, Catherine Hall and GC Foster College.

The Stadium East and GC Foster College tracks are heavily in need of repair, while start co-ordinator at the recent Supreme Ventures/JAAA National Senior Championships, Alfred Francis, who also directs a number of development meets, said it would not be long before Catherine Hall, in Montego Bay would also need to be repaired.

The track inside the National Stadium, also built by BSW Regupol, is just over four months old, having been completed in late February in time for the Gibson Relays.

Double world record holder Bolt and his Racer’s Track Club teammates, including 400m national record holder Jermaine Gonzales, use the UWI/Usain Bolt track as a training base.