K30 MILLION KINA UPGRADE FOR SIR IGNATIUS KILAGE STADIUM

Picture Caption: Sir Ignatius Stadium in Lae under major renovation

BY Martha LOUIS

THE Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae is set for a major overhaul after the Lae City Authority (LCA) officially took over its management from the National Sports Foundation.

The facility, which has deteriorated over the years, will undergo a K30 million renovation to restore it to a national standard.

Lae MP John Rosso said the stadium had been neglected despite its significance to the local sporting community.

“The facility has been run down for a long time,” Rosso said. “It was under the National Sports Foundation, but no real attention was given to it. It sits in the heart of Lae and is widely used, but the tracks had become unsafe.”

The stadium, which includes Papua New Guinea’s national athletics track and a swimming pool, will undergo a complete transformation. According to Rosso, the upgrade is designed to improve sporting infrastructure and make the venue suitable for hosting national and regional competitions.

“We have now taken over management rights from the National Sports Foundation and invested in infrastructure construction,” Rosso said. “The full renovation will cost around K30 million and will ensure Lae has a stadium fit for national events.”

He emphasized that the upgrade would benefit not just athletes but also the wider Lae community.

“This redevelopment will allow us to host national athletics events while also ensuring our children have access to proper sporting facilities,” he said.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by September 2025, coinciding with Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

“As part of this milestone, we want to deliver a newly renovated stadium as a gift to the people of Lae,” Rosso added.

The project is expected to boost sports development in the city and provide a much-needed upgrade to one of Papua New Guinea’s key sporting venues.