New Nauru Stadium

The stadium is located on Portion 230 in the Meneng District’s interior plateau, also known as Topside.{{cite web |title=NRC Conducts blasting operation at topside area |date=4 April 2023 |url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nrc-conducts-blasting-operation-topside-area-119014 |publisher=Loop Nauru |access-date=24 September 2023}} The government of Nauru has identified the area around the stadium as a key location for land reclamation and future development, including a sustainably-designed neighborhood, as part of the Higher Ground Initiative.{{cite web |last1=Steuteville |first1=Robert |title=Nation seeks higher ground with New Urbanism |date=15 May 2023 |url=https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2023/05/15/nation-seeks-higher-ground-new-urbanism |publisher=Congress for New Urbanism |access-date=25 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Higher Ground Initiative-Land Portion #230 |date=October 2022 |url=https://issuu.com/civicurban/docs/land_tenure_social_safeguarding |publisher=Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation |access-date=25 September 2023}}

Since at least 2011 the government of Nauru had planned to construct a new 10,000-seat national stadium on reclaimed phosphate mining land in the interior of the island as part of the nation's unsuccessful bid to host the 2017 Pacific Mini Games. The venue, with a projected construction cost of AUD $4.2 million, would then have served as the home of Australian rules football in Nauru.{{cite web |title=The Dream of a Nation |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/get_file.cgi?id=1375697 |publisher=Nauru Olympic Committee |access-date=31 July 2021}}

In July 2022 it was announced that Nauru had been selected to host the 2026 Micronesian Games, the first time the nation had been selected as host. As part of the announcement, Minister of Sports Maverick Eoe announced the upcoming construction of relevant and much-needed sports infrastructure projects, including an athletics stadium. The stadium would be modeled after the Majuro Track and Field Stadium being built by the Marshall Islands to host the 2023 edition of the same tournament.{{cite web |title=Nauru to Host 2026 Micronesian Games |date=28 July 2022 |url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nauru-host-2026-micronesian-games-114868 |publisher=Loop Nauru |access-date=14 August 2022}} The Marshall Islands stadium also includes an association football pitch.{{cite web |last1=Ewart |first1=Richard |title=Small beginnings as Marshall Islands sets out to join the world soccer family |date=27 February 2020 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/marshalls-soccer/12009542 |publisher=abc.net.au |access-date=8 November 2021}}

Financial assistance for preparation for the tournament was offered from donor partners. These funds would be used, in part, for infrastructure projects.{{cite web |title=Nauru confirmed as host of 2026 Micronesian Games |date=5 August 2022 |url=https://islandtimes.org/nauru-confirmed-as-host-of-2026-micronesian-games-2/ |publisher=The Island Times |access-date=14 August 2022}} Several days after the original announcement, Minister for Sports Eoe stated that Nauru was hoping for additional donors to build the stadium and a proper weightlifting gym facility.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Lydia |title=Nauru seeking help as it's to host Micronesian Games |date=2 August 2022 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/472075/nauru-seeking-help-as-it-s-to-host-micronesian-games |publisher=RNZ |access-date=14 August 2022}} During a November 2022 state visit, the government of Taiwan agreed to fund and assist with planning of the 2026 Micronesian Games, including covering the costs of the track and field stadium and other necessary facilities. The next step was for Nauru to present detailed plans and costing for the project.{{cite news |title=Taiwan Back Micro Games and Others Including Coast Guard Cooperation |url=http://naurugov.nr/media/191653/nauru_bulletin__14_16dec2022__248__specialedition-taiwanstatevisit.pdf |access-date=10 January 2023 |work=Nauru Bulletin |agency=Government of Nauru |issue=14 |date=16 December 2022 |page=3}}

In October 2022 Deputy Minister for Sports Jesse Jeremiah and Secretary for Sports Dagan Kaierua visited the Marshall Islands capital Majuro to inspect the track and field stadium as part of Nauru's infrastructure planning for the games.{{cite web |title=Nauru Looks at Marshall Islands Micro Games Sporting Infrastructure|url=https://www.facebook.com/republicofnauru/posts/pfbid0Vi5rEWrK4ihbxAodiVZ61GJYZV2bTmZvupjTyLhHuHrz5gXXUFzSERKBcBA1Anidl |publisher=The Government of the Republic of Nauru |access-date=15 December 2022}} In April 2023, blasting operations began in the Meneng District’s Topside to construct an access road for the Higher Ground Initiative Project and the new stadium. In August, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Chung Kwang Tien visited the proposed site of the stadium to assess the progress of clearing and leveling the land which was formerly used for phosphate mining. The earthworks were being performed by the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation and the Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation (RONPhos).{{cite web |title=Taiwan Reaffirms Support for Nauru's Plans for Micronesian Games |date=23 August 2023 |url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/taiwan-reaffirms-support-nauru’s-plans-micronesian-games-122334 |publisher=Loop Nauru |access-date=20 September 2023}}

Nauru switched diplomatic allegiance to the People's Republic of China in January 2024. China reportedly offered Nauru unlimited infrastructure development aid, including the construction of the sports stadium, as part of the policy change.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Michael |last2=Kuo |first2=Lily |last3=Chiang |first3=Vic |title=China sets sights on Taiwan's three remaining tiny Pacific allies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/01/china-taiwan-pacific-nauru-tuvalu/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=9 February 2024}} In May 2024, a team from the China International Development Cooperation Agency visited Nauru to survey for the stadium.{{cite web |title=China developments are for Nauruans: HE Adeang |url=http://www.nauru.gov.nr/government-information-office/nauru-bulletin/nauru-bulletin-2024/nauru-bulletin-7.aspx |publisher=Government of Nauru |access-date=17 July 2024}} By March 2025, approximately 75% of the earthworks and ground preparation was complete at the stadium site.{{cite web |title=Nauru Bulletin #287 |url=http://naurugov.nr/media/203352/nauru_bulletin__4_5mar2025__287_.pdf |publisher=Government of Nauru |access-date=18 April 2025}}

• Denig Stadium
• Linkbelt Oval
• Meneñ Stadium

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Category:Sports venues in Nauru

Nauru

Category:Soccer venues in Nauru