Pride Italy: 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome

After Turin 1934 and Rome 1974, here is Rome 2024: the Eternal City will host the twenty-sixth European Athletics Championships. This was established by the sixteen members of the Council of the continental federation, virtually meeting by teleconference, preferring the Italian capital to the Polish Katowice. For the tricolor movement, the success is overwhelming (14-2) and not insignificant: it will bring back to the country a global review of the discipline 37 years after the 1987 World Cup in Rome.

Too many points in favor of the candidacy presented by FIDAL, together with Sport and Health and local authorities, for the tip of the balance not to hang on the Italian side. An example for everyone: among the competition sites, there will be the weight at the foot of the Colosseum, the march on a circuit near the Arch of Constantine and the half marathons with start and finish overlooking St. Peter’s Square: nothing, as to charm, it could hold its own. In addition, the proposal rests on solid economic bases (with about 50% of the 31 million euro budget already divided between the Government, the Region and the Municipality) and has the appeal of a city and a stadium, the Olimpico, with the Marbles which heating system, unique.

Having said that, the work of the organizing committee will not be easy. Because the world moment is what it is because the review will happen immediately after the Paris Olympics and therefore will risk losing a little specific weight. But don’t tell them to the Azzurri: a generation – that of Tortu, Scotti, Crippa, Fabbri and Iapichino – is maturing and by then it will be the protagonist.