Amarjit holding the homologation certificate.
IPOH: The refurbished Velodrome Rakyat has been officially approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) vice-president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said the UCI had certified that the velodrome had complied with all requirements needed for the homologation.
"I've just returned from Aigle, Switzerland this morning.
"I have personally collected the original velodrome homologation certificate," Amarjit said in a press release Friday (Aug 3).
Amarjit said with the certificate, the velodrome was now ready to host and organise international and local tournaments.
"Our immediate focus will be on the 2018 Malaysia Games (Sukma), which is scheduled to be held next month.
"We will then discuss with the MNCF to organise development and local grassroots programmes," said Amarjit, who is also Perak Cycling Association president.
State Sports Committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How had on Monday announced that the velodrome had been checked and had received positive feedback from UCI.
Lee said a decision would be made on whether the track cycling events for Sukma would be reinstated.
It had been reported in June that six-track cycling events would be dropped from Sukma due to the deplorable state of the velodrome.
Amarjit said the velodrome, which was the first in the country, was built using donations collected from the public, hence its name.
"The donation drive was conducted by Tan Sri Darshan Singh in 1984 after receiving blessings from the late Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan Shah," he said.
"The PCA (Perak Cycling Association) had requested the government in 2015 to repair the wooden track of Velodrome Rakyat," he added.
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