Rome works overtime to hold European Athletics’ event

Article posted by Coliseum, February 14^th, 2020

Image: MJR Group Ltd. / Coliseum

The Colosseum – an oval amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy – has been lined up to hold shot put events against the backdrop of the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) submitting Rome’s bid to host the 2024 European Athletics Championships.

The Polish city of Katowice is all set to give Rome stiff competition to hold European Athletics’ showpiece event. The winner will be declared on May 8 this year. Katowice in Poland is the only other bidder for the competition, which is slated to be held a few weeks after the Paris Olympics. Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

While the major events will be held at the main and largest sports facility of Rome – Stadio Olimpico – race walking at Rome 2024 would be staged alongside the ancient Baths of Caracalla after starting from the Arch of Constantine, while the half-marathon would commence and finish in front of the Vatican.

FIDAL has reiterated that its bid has the full backing of the Italian Government and the City of Rome, even though bids for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympic Games using many of the same venues were nixed citing financial concerns by the political bodies.

If the bid proves to be successful, it will result in the European flagship event being held in Italy for the third time after Turin staging the inaugural edition in 1934 and Rome’s 1974 event. The European Athletics extravaganza was held in 2019 in Berlin, Germany, as part of the inaugural multi-sport European Championships, which saw European championships in multiple disciplines held simultaneously in Glasgow and Berlin.

FIDAL also recently announced that the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet, which is part of the Diamond League, will be held at Naples’ San Paolo Stadium on May 28. The meet is usually held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome but that venue is being spruced up to host the opening match and three more games of the soccer European Championship in June.

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