MEDIA GUIDE - European Athletics

22nd European Athletics Junior
Championships
Rieti, Raul Guidobaldi Stadium
4. THE RAUL GUIDOBALDI STADIUM
The Raul Guidobaldi stadium is located in the center of the city of Rieti and it is
surrounded almost entirely by the river Velino.
The “Camposcuola” was inaugurated on 23 July 1960 with a solemn ceremony.
Immediately after the Italian team with its captain Livio Berruti moved in Rieti in
order to prepare for the Olympics games of Rome.
The famous track of the stadium was initially in “Tennisolite” then in Rubcor “and
finally in “Sportflex”.
The “school track” became a proper Stadium after 1996. It was named after
Professor Raul Guidobaldi, the president of CONI Rieti for 12 years.
Raul Guidobaldi was an extremely dedicated person who with his commitment
and expertise, contributed actively to the realization of important structures related
to sport. He has been the protagonist of an historic transition that has laid
the foundation for the great development of sport in Rieti.
In 2002, the stadium was entirely renewed, the mantle was replaced and a
monumental grandstand was built. Just after the conclusion of these works, the
city of Rieti hosted, for the first time in 2003, the Italian Senior Championships.
2012 was the year of the great renovation, a lot of changes were made in
order to be ready to host the EuroJunior. The brand new MONDO track is been
until now a guarantee of success.
The stadium has also a fully equipped indoor track (6 lanes 80 metres long – 2
high jump areas 1 pole vault area – 1 long jump area) and a fully equipped
outdoor L-shaped training track located behind the main stands. The training
track has been lengthened and relayed with a new track surface last year.
Alternative Training Track Rieti has an altitude track in Terminillo (the mountain
of Rieti) fully equipped, available for all the teams and athletes accommodated
in that area.
Since 1970 the stadium Raul Guidobaldi has been the home of the reknown
RietiMeeting, the international IAAF event directed by Sandro Giovannelli. Every
year the Iaaf meeting rewards the city with top permformances and records. 8
are the world records made on the Guidobaldi’s track, the latest in chronological
order : Asafa Powell (9.74 – 100m , 2007) and David Rudisha (1:41:01 - 800,
2010).
Athletics in Rieti is most of all youth athletics. For 38 years the local club Atletica
Studentesca Cariri worked within the schoolworld organizing stages and activities
for youth of all ages and disciplines.
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