Taipei Travel

Zhongzheng High School Track Puts On a New Look!
First International Certified Training Venue for the Universiade

Article｜Chang Huanpeng Photos｜Taipei City Government Public Works Department

In anticipation of the upcoming 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade, the software and hardware infrastructure of local athletic facilities has been upgraded. Whether for new construction or old facilities renovation, these improvements will reflect Taiwan’s cutting-edge soft and hard power. For Taipei, the Summer Universiade is a major sports event, a social movement that may change this city, and it also carries the responsibility of bringing back glory to our capital.
This athletic meet will involve 79 facilities – all following the regulations and guidelines of the International University Sports Federation and the principles of environmental protection and energy conservation. Zhongzheng High School (中正高中) is a good example. After 5 months of construction, this old venue now boasts a 400-meter track with 8 lanes, a two-way long jump/triple jump runway and sand pit, 2 shot put fields and a hammer throw area.

Rigorous Engineering Process – No Detail Ignored
After renovation, the track at Zhongzheng High School officially opened last December, and people stared in amazement at the brand new look. “This is a Class 2 facility, with first class construction,” Cheng Peijia (程培嘉), Chief Engineer of the Sewerage Systems Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government (台北市政府工務局衛生下水道工程處) points out. The track and field have received the IAAF Class 2 Facility Certificate; and the whole project was done by the supreme engineering team in the country. Even the synthetic rubber track surface was made in Taiwan!

▲ The renovated Track at Zhongzheng High School is ready for the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade. (Photo: Taipei City Government Public Works Department)

The construction process of this stadium was quite complicated, involving such operations as scraping off the original track, pressing the bottom layer to at least 95% compaction, redoing the asphalt and concrete surface, and adjusting the drainage slope. The final step was to lay down synthetic rubber that had been certified to international standards, and then force it down with compressed blocks to make it nice and even. Every stage of the process was crucial.
According to Cheng, “If ground humidity was over 8%, the construction had to be put on hold.” In order for the track to be granted international-standard certification, the engineering team took every detail very seriously. A 1-in-10000 margin of error within 400 meters was the maximum that could be allowed, and similar low tolerances were the rule in setting slope integrity and ground humidity, as well. The synthetic rubber surface had to be sent to the IAAF lab in Switzerland and inspected before the international certificate could be granted and the track laid.

▲ The work team at Zhongzheng High School pays close attention to every engineering detail. (Photo: Taipei City Government Public Works Department)

British Line Marking Master Precisely Marks Track Lines
The perfect set of lines on the new blue track is the masterpiece of British line-marking master, Matthew Cohen. Cheng says, “He has plenty of experience, having marked 163 international-class tracks.” Cohen brought his professional marking cart all the way from Oman, and doesn’t allow anyone to make noise or fool around while he works. Only after he has done his careful, professional measuring and laid out each and every track, does he start slowly and deliberately marking the lines.

▲ In order to help the Zhongzheng High School track reach international standards, a professional line-marking master devotes much time and effort to getting it right. (Photo: Taipei City Government Public Works Department)

The whole team’s serious work ethic helped the Zhongzheng track reach the high quality demanded for international certification. Sports men and women from around the world now have a professional and safe practice facility. Cheng says that the second stage of engineering will begin this July with renovations to the showers, washrooms, temporary athletes’ lounges, first-aid stations, and security rooms.
Once the event is finished, the Public Works Department will start the third stage, which is restoring the facility so that Zhongzheng High School students, teachers and even Taipei citizens can enjoy sports and leisure activities there. This international-standard track and field can be used for physical education, athletic training, recreational sports, and as a practice facility. With such an athletic venue, Taipei will join the list of the world’s great sports cities!