The improved and impressive-looking media tribune at the National Stadium that was introduced at Grand Slam Track meet, but was removed after the event, is still in the hands of the stadium handlers and will be re-erected soon.

Major Desmon Brown, general manager of Independence Park, the home of the National Stadium, told Observer Online that the media tribune was removed to make some minor adjustments.

“We will be putting them back up but with some changes,” said Major Brown.

The improved media area was a welcome sight during the Michael Johnson-led three-day Grand Slam Track event in April which provided much more seating and a comfortable working area for journalists. Following the event, the erected seats and tables disappeared, and the general thought was that the meet organisers had recovered the items.

However, Johnson made it known that along with the improved media tribune, Grand Slam Track left the island with US$50,000 worth of track equipment for youths, including hurdles and starting blocks.

The media tribune at the National Stadium has been the bane of local journalists for years. It had been set up for the 2002 World Junior Championship at the facility, but deteriorated badly over the years.

The inadequacy of the space was especially evident during popular events such as the Boys and Girls Athletics Championships and World Cup football when overseas media practitioners descend on the National Stadium.

It became a first-come, first-served situation, and journalists could be seen sitting all over the grandstand area just to get their information out.

H.W