PREPARATIONS for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester have stepped up a gear with the laying of the running track.

A team of experts was brought in to lay the specialist surface at the £110m City of Manchester Stadium.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and vice chairman of Sport England, Tessa Sanderson, was on hand to see the progress herself.

The work is due to be completed by the end of the week.

Angelo Sobrero and Luciano Belmondo from Italian-based company Mondo were laying the IAAF approved Class 1 athletic surface, which is used in stadiums all over the world including Sydney, Atlanta, Montreal, Gothenburg and Rome.

Investment

The surface is very hard and helps produce the best performances from the athletes competing in the events.

Tessa Sanderson said: ''Sport England has made a huge investment to help make the Games happen and the installation of the track is a key milestone in the construction of the stadium.

''It underpins the confidence that the facility will be ready on time to deliver what will be a world class event in a world class stadium.

''There has been a lot of doubt about whether it will be finished in time and if everything will be okay, but having seen this stadium today, I honestly believe it will work.

''Seeing it now reminds me of the stadium in Sydney and this is a major championship with a lot of top class athletes competing.

Support

''It is important that this is not just seen as Manchester's Games, but as the Games for the whole of the country. Everybody needs to get behind this event to help make it a success.''

The stadium is being built by construction firm Laing and is due to be handed over to the Games' organisers in March next year.

Chief executive of Manchester 2002 Frances Done said: ''With facilities such as this wonderful stadium, we can ensure that we deliver a top class event which the people of Manchester will be proud of.''

City council leader Richard Leese said: ''With the track now in place the stadium is really taking shape.

''People of East Manchester are playing a full role in the improvements in their area, which is already well on the way to becoming a new town in the city with plans for more families, jobs, businesses, schools and health care.''

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