Sydney Olympic Park
World athletics-certified track renewal and field upgrade
New South Wales

The athletics track at Sydney Olympic Park was nearing the end of its 10-year lifespan after constant use over the last decade, hosting school sports carnivals and Little Athletics events along with more prestigious events such as State and National Athletics competitions.

SPORTENG were engaged by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority to oversee the design and specification of two tracks across 2 stages. The first stage involved the main 9-lane, 12-lane straight, internationally accredited track, along with replacing the concrete shot put and discus circles, pole vault boxes, discus and hammer cages, and installing new sand traps around the long jump pits. The second stage involves the resurfacing of the warm-up track, with works to take place over the summer of 2026-2027.

The Sydney Olympic Park Authority desired a showpiece track that would reflect the quality of the surface and its surrounding infrastructure, while also becoming a recognisable sports arena both here in Australia and overseas.

Working with the Authority and the contractor Polytan, SPORTENG designed a state-of-the-art track that maintained its World Athletics compliance. The surface of the track, with its distinctive alternative dark and light blue lanes, is a premium Gel Series layer that is a leader in both environmental and athlete welfare.

Further design saw the replacement of concrete shot put and discus circles, which had not been updated since 1993 and were beginning to impact the quality of throwers’ rotations. An added benefit to upgrading these circles meant that Paralympic tie-downs could be added to each circle, creating Paralympic-compliant throwing spaces, which increases the venue’s ability to cater to sporting events of all levels and abilities.

Other elements upgraded included pole vault boxes, discus and hammer cages, and javelin throwing areas, again incorporating distinctive red and grey colouring to the surface to add to the distinctive look of the field of play.

Upgrades to the long-jump pits included retrofitting sand-traps; a difficult but innovative task in an existing facility, while a small natural turf grass section in the north-western corner of the facility was converted to synthetic turf to improve the area and reduce ongoing maintenance. An indoor warm-up area also included the distinctive alternative colour lanes along with the Gel Series track surface. Upgrades to the warm-up track will commence at the end of 2026.

The Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre has now undergone significant capital works and upgrades, and recently hosted the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships, where Gout Gout delivered the fastest under-20yo 200m run in history, Lachlan Kennedy set the fastest 100m ever run by an Australian on home soil, and our own Bryce Collins clocked two season-best runs in the 400m hurdles (52.20s), finishing 7th nationally!

Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith also seized the silver medal in the 400m PA Final at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre during the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships.
Reflecting on the new track, Blacksmith said: "The track is very good; it's a good atmosphere. Everyone is here, and I think the best part about it is I'm competing and I'm trying my hardest."

Source: Telaya is at Nationals bringing light to the track