Linkbelt Oval
Encyclopedia
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
of the island nation
Island nation
An island country is a state whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. As of 2011, 47 of the 193 UN member states are island countries.-Politics:...
of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, besides Menen Stadium
Menen Stadium
Meneñ Stadium is the site of the national stadium of the island Nauru. It is located in the Meneng District.The area, a large empty sports field, was converted into a refugee containment area by the Australian Government in 2001...
. It is located in Aiwo and was constructed by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation
Nauru Phosphate Corporation
The Nauru Phosphate Corporation was a government-owned company controlling phosphate mining in Nauru, now known as the Republic of Nauru Phosphate, or RONPhos.-Failed investments:...
. It is also called the Aida Oval, because Aida, one of the athletic organizations in Nauru, holds its competitions and trainings here.
Because of its age and rough playing surface, it is generally not suitable for international requirements. The Linkbelt Oval currently hosts Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and soccer matches. The stadium holds the offices of the Nauru Australian Football Association (NAFA), which organized the games of the national championships and the national team. The visitor attendance record lies at 3,000 spectators, which was achieved during the championship finale in 1999.
It consists of a playing field and temporary small grandstands during important games. The structure is named after a company
Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company
Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Heavy Industries based in Lexington, Kentucky, which manufactures telescopic and lattice boom cranes.- History :...
, which was earlier involved in the excavation of phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
s. Additionally, the team named after the power station, the Menaida Tigers, was originally known by the name "Linkbelt."
There is no grass growing in the stadium; the playing surface is comprised completely of phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
dust and dirt. The motto of the NAFA is "the hard men of football."