Allen, who is also the vice-president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), played a key role in securing $160,000 (£110,000/€142,000) in funding from the IOC to help establish a modern athletics track for the country in Bakau. 

The project was also aided by around $60,000 (£41,000/€53,000) from the Government of Gambia, while the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) contributed $80,000 (£55,000/€71,000) and $100,000 (£69,000/€89,000) respectively.

Major engineering work and redoing the gutter-ways was among the work carried out at the facility, as well as the laying of the athletics track, which was carried out by IOC appointed specialists MONDO.

The Italian company have laid the tracks at all Olympic stadiums since Barcelona 1992.

Allen was accompanied by Marcel Mendy, executive director of the National Sports Council, and Pa Suwareh Faye, who is the acting general manager of the stadium.

She met with Gambia Athletics Association (GAA) President Alhagie Dodou Capi Joof to find out further information about the project.

The IOC member expressed her delight at the work at the facility, which has been out of action for the past five years.

Allen claimed the completion of the track will enable the GNOC to spend more money in different areas of sports development, after having to finance sending athletes overseas to train prior to the work being carried out.

To preserve the track, she advised stadium management to take preventative measures during any social events which are held at the venue.