New Nauru Stadium
 | |
| Location | Topside, Meneng District, Nauru |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 0°32′24″S 166°56′10″E / 0.5400°S 166.9360°E |
| Owner | Government of Nauru |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 2023 |
| Opened | 2026 (anticipated) |
| Tenants | |
| Nauru Olympic Committee Nauru AFL Leagues Nauru Soccer Federation | |
The New Nauru Stadium is a multi-use stadium currently under construction on the Pacific island nation of Nauru.[1]
Location
[edit]The stadium is located on Portion 230 in the Meneng District’s interior plateau, also known as Topside.[2] The government of Nauru has identified the area around the stadium as a key location for land reclamation and future development, including a sustainably-designed neighborhood, as part of the Higher Ground Initiative.[3][4]
History
[edit]Since at least 2011 the government of Nauru had planned to construct a new 10,000-seat national stadium on reclaimed phosphate mining land in the interior of the island as part of the nation's unsuccessful bid to host the 2017 Pacific Mini Games. The venue, with a projected construction cost of AUD $4.2 million, would then have served as the home of Australian rules football in Nauru.[5]
In July 2022 it was announced that Nauru had been selected to host the 2026 Micronesian Games, the first time the nation had been selected as host. As part of the announcement, Minister of Sports Maverick Eoe announced the upcoming construction of relevant and much-needed sports infrastructure projects, including an athletics stadium. The stadium would be modeled after the Majuro Track and Field Stadium being built by the Marshall Islands to host the 2023 edition of the same tournament.[6] The Marshall Islands stadium also includes an association football pitch.[7]
Financial assistance for preparation for the tournament was offered from donor partners. These funds would be used, in part, for infrastructure projects.[8] Several days after the original announcement, Minister for Sports Eoe stated that Nauru was hoping for additional donors to build the stadium and a proper weightlifting gym facility.[9] During a November 2022 state visit, the government of Taiwan agreed to fund and assist with planning of the 2026 Micronesian Games, including covering the costs of the track and field stadium and other necessary facilities. The next step was for Nauru to present detailed plans and costing for the project.[10]
In October 2022 Deputy Minister for Sports Jesse Jeremiah and Secretary for Sports Dagan Kaierua visited the Marshall Islands capital Majuro to inspect the track and field stadium as part of Nauru's infrastructure planning for the games.[11] In April 2023, blasting operations began in the Meneng District’s Topside to construct an access road for the Higher Ground Initiative Project and the new stadium.[2] In August, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Chung Kwang Tien visited the proposed site of the stadium to assess the progress of clearing and leveling the land which was formerly used for phosphate mining. The earthworks were being performed by the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation and the Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation (RONPhos).[12]
Nauru switched diplomatic allegiance to the People's Republic of China in January 2024. China reportedly offered Nauru unlimited infrastructure development aid, including the construction of the sports stadium, as part of the policy change.[13] In May 2024, a team from the China International Development Cooperation Agency visited Nauru to survey for the stadium.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Nauru will host Micronesian Games for first time". Radio New Zealand. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "NRC Conducts blasting operation at topside area". Loop Nauru. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Steuteville, Robert (15 May 2023). "Nation seeks higher ground with New Urbanism". Congress for New Urbanism. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Higher Ground Initiative-Land Portion #230". Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation. October 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "The Dream of a Nation". Nauru Olympic Committee. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Nauru to Host 2026 Micronesian Games". Loop Nauru. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ Ewart, Richard (27 February 2020). "Small beginnings as Marshall Islands sets out to join the world soccer family". abc.net.au. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Nauru confirmed as host of 2026 Micronesian Games". The Island Times. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Lydia (2 August 2022). "Nauru seeking help as it's to host Micronesian Games". RNZ. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Taiwan Back Micro Games and Others Including Coast Guard Cooperation" (PDF). Nauru Bulletin. No. 14. Government of Nauru. 16 December 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Nauru Looks at Marshall Islands Micro Games Sporting Infrastructure". The Government of the Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Taiwan Reaffirms Support for Nauru's Plans for Micronesian Games". Loop Nauru. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Miller, Michael; Kuo, Lily; Chiang, Vic. "China sets sights on Taiwan's three remaining tiny Pacific allies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "China developments are for Nauruans: HE Adeang". Government of Nauru. Retrieved 17 July 2024.