QEII athletics track goes to a good cause

Christchurch City Council has donated pieces of the historic athletics track at QEII Park to the New Zealand Spinal Trust, who are offering them as unique pieces of memorabilia in a fundraising auction.

With demolition of the QEII Park Recreation and Sport stadium currently underway, over 100 pieces of the track, which was irreparably damaged in the February 2011 earthquake, have been salvaged by the New Zealand Spinal Trust and have been auctioned.

Four pieces of note such as the exact spot where Dick Tayler famously fell triumphantly onto his back after winning the 10,000 metre race at the 1974 Commonwealth Games have been specially mounted.

They include photographs, memorial plaques and the signatures of the athletes behind the stories: Tayler, Sir John Walker and Tanzania's Filbert Bayi having provided signatures to relevant pieces.

The track's entire finishing line recovered intact by the Trust has been been presented to Mayor Bob Parker, on behalf of the city.

Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Unit Manager John Filsell says "this is a touching gesture from the New Zealand Spinal Trust to our community. We're hoping to have this piece of Christchurch history on display in the new athletics facility once it's built a passing of the baton of sorts."

Buildings being demolished are the main stadium building, the covered stand, the north and south open stands and the athletics track.

At this stage, the 50-metre pool is not being demolished but the Council is continuing to identify whether any additional buildings at the site will be included in the demolition process with any further demolition decisions to be made by elected members of Council.

Demolition of most of the QEII Park Recreation and Sport Centre is to begin soon and will take about 18 weeks.

For more information go to www.backontrackqe2.co.nz

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