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By Admin EAC Roma2024

Ivana Spanovic ready to compete with Larissa Iapichino in the long jump

After Armand Duplantis, Femke Bol, Karsten Warholm, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Keely Hodgkinson, another international athletics star has confirmed her presence at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, scheduled 7-12 June  at the Olympic Stadium and the Foro Italico Park (tickets on sale here).

Today European Athletics annunced the participation of Ivana Spanovic, the Serbian long jump queen that won three world golds, five European golds medal, an Olympic bronze medal and six Diamond League editions.

The Olympic Stadium platform in Rome will host an amazing long jump competition, with qualifying in the morning session on Tuesday 11 June and the final scheduled for the final evening of Wednesday 12 June. 

The Italian Larissa Iapichino also wants to play a starring role and she is ready to compete in front of the home crowd.

The challenge between Spanovic and Iapichino is in the name of respect: the Italian, who will make her seasonal outdoor debut at the meeting in Athens on Wednesday 15 May, considers the Serb one of her sporting idols.

Spanovic won her first outdoor World title in Budapest 2023 (with a fantastic 7.14), having triumphed twice indoors, in Birmingham 2018 and at home in Belgrade 2022. Iapichino finished ahead of her at the Istanbul 2023 European Indoor Championships, when she won the silver medal with an Italian indoor record of 6.97, while the Serbian took bronze medal. The Italian also managed to beat Spanovic in three Diamond League meetings in Florence, Stockholm and Monaco.

At the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, the two long jump stars will not be the only contenders for the European title. Big emotions at the Olympic Stadium are guaranteed.

Credit photo: Grana\FIDAL

By Admin EAC Roma2024

High jump star Mahuchikh excited for Roma 2024

The European Athletics Championships are huge moment in any athlete’s career, but for high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Roma 2024 takes on extra significance.

“Rome is a special place for me,” she said talking to European Athletics’ new podcast series Ignite. “My first Diamond League was in Rome in 2018. Second, the world record in high jump was set in Rome in 1987 (2.09m by Stefka Kostadinova of Bulgaria).

“So, it’s a really special place and this place has a lot of energy. Italian fans, Italian people (it will be) so loud, so crazy. So, I am looking forward to this competition.” (tickets on sale here).

Six years ago, she was an inexperienced, but proven talent who had already won the 2017 world U18 gold in Nairobi, Kenya. But as current world champion and also defending European champion, there is now a heavy expectation on her 22-year-old shoulders.

But, with her coach’s words echoing in her ears, she is determined to savour the occasion. “I am a champion and I will go to protect my title in Rome,” she says. “My coach always says that every competition it should be like a celebration, like a holiday for you. People come to watch you, other people support you, you should enjoy (it). It’s like a party for track and field!”

As with any Ukrainian competitor, the backdrop of war in her home country remains an ever present challenge.

“In this difficult time for me, the high jump helps me focus (on) only track and field inside the stadium and forget anything that is happening outside. I will enjoy the atmosphere. I think if I will enjoy the atmosphere I will jump high,” she says, giving the Roma every encouragement to lend their support.

And the prospect of competing in the Stadio Olimpico lights a spark in the Ukrainian. “The stadium itself, it’s one of the great, great stadiums of the world. You walk in, you walk past all the statues, all the historic stuff. I mean, it’s a great place to have the event, isn’t it?” she says. 

The women’s high jump final takes place on Sunday 9 June.

Credit photo: Colombo\FIDAL

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Medals and new track unveiled for Roma 2024

With one month to go until the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, the medals for the championships were unveiled at a press conference held on a newly laid track in the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday  evening.

The medals for the championships are 85 millimetres in diameter and feature the city’s iconic Colosseum on the left-hand side, the official logo for the championships in the centre and a stylised athletics track around the perimeter of the medals, presenting an innovative fusion between classicism and modernity. 

European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov was in the Italian capital to mark the one month to go countdown and paid fulsome tribute to the Local Organising Committee and Italian Athletics Federation President Stefano Mei for their dedication in staging the event, the third time Italy has staged the European Athletics Championships in competition history.

“Organising a European Championship in the Olympic year is a great challenge. I thank President Stefano Mei for his great commitment. I am sure that Roma 2024 will be an extraordinary edition in a beautiful city and in a historic stadium,” said Karamarinov.

President Mei reflected some of the recent successes of Italian athletes on the continental and global stage and announced that “over 100 athletes” will represent the host nation in Roma 2024 next month.

“We will be here with over 100 athletes, everyone deserves this chance. I am proud of this national team, of our Olympic champions and of the many younger athlete who push to emulate their more successful teammates,” said Mei. 

Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri is also looking forward to the championships and believes the half marathon course in particular will be a brilliant showcase for what Rome has to offer. 

“The combination of sport and major events is an extraordinary driving force for the city. With what we have behind us and what we have ahead of us, these European Athletics Championships have a special flavour.

“I believe the half marathon course is the most beautiful course in the world for the athletes who will make us love this extraordinary sport once again. Long live the European Athletics Championships!” he said.

And to mark the one month to go countdown to the championships, there will be a 40 percent discount on tickets for Roma 2024.

The discount begins at midnight local time on Tuesday (7) and runs through until midnight on Thursday (9). All tickets for the championships can be purchased through the ticketing site here.

By Admin EAC Roma2024

The Finnish athletes return at the Olympic Stadium 50 years later Roma 1974

An emotional ride through the past inside the stadium where they triumphed 50 years ago. The four former Finnish athletes Riitta Salin, Pirjo Häggman, Marika Eklund and Nina Holmen, who competed during the Roma 1974 European Athletics Championships, returned to visit the Olympic Stadium for filming a television documentary and ahead of the next edition of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, scheduled for 7-12 June (tickets on sale here).

The Finnish athletes won a total of five medals during the Roma 1974 European Athletics Championships. Salin, Häggman and Eklund together with Mona-Lisa Pursiainen made up the Finnish team that won silver in the 4×400 relay behind Germany. Salin also won gold in the 400m individual race, while Holmen triumphed in the 3,000m final and Pursianen stood on the third step of the podium in the 200m.

Completing the great rise of the Finnish female movement was Pirkko Helenius with her bronze medal won in the long jump.

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Ingebrigtsen plots another 1500/5000m double in Roma 2024

If a European gold medal is at stake, then it’s almost certain that Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be there. Still only 23, the prolific Norwegian has already won twelve European senior medals, including eleven gold, outdoors, indoors and on cross country.

Plus, the remarkable runner has won six gold medals at European U20 level on track and cross country. In short, the Olympic and world champion is a medal winning-machine and his eyes are focused squarely on more gold at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships on 7-12 June (tickets on sale here).

Talking on European Athletics’ new podcast series Ignite, he revealed he is targeting yet another double over 1500m and 5000m. It would be an incredible hat-trick, having fulfilled similar ambitions at both Berlin 2018 and Munich 2022.

“My hope and expectations (are) probably to defend both titles,” he said of Roma 2024. “Hoping for good weather and a good championship in general. It’s somewhat earlier this year than it has been previously, so that’s also a nice challenge. That makes it a little bit exciting.” says Ingebrigtsen.

He is also keen to perform in the historic Italian capital. “I think it’s exciting to race in Rome. It’s not something I have done too many times before. One road race and one 3000m in the Diamond League. It’s a nice place and hopefully it can be good conditions that time of year. I think a lot of people will use it as a good stepping stone going into the Olympics and hopefully getting a lot of good answers from all the training that we have done in the winter.”

COne of the most intriguing storylines in recent years has been Ingebrigtsen’s rivalry with Britain’s Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr, who pipped him to 1500m gold at successive World Athletics Championships at Oregon 2022 and Budapest 2023.

Although Ingebrigtsen had the satisfaction of 5000m gold at both championships, there is huge interest in the keen competition at the shorter distance in a year where Ingebrigtsen will also be looking to defend his Olympic 1500m title.

It’s a rivalry that has – on occasions – extended off the track with some verbal barbs, particularly between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr.  “I have some friends and some of them are not my friends, and that is just the way of the game,” says of his fellow runners.

“Athletics is a sport of all different people, all different nations. It’s not a place that everyone can come together and be best friends. Sometimes it’s more focused on the competition and the winning aspect of coming out on top.”

The middle distance events are certainly a mouthwatering prospect this year. The Norwegian says: “I think we are approaching an exciting season and I think we will have to buckle our belts and get prepared.”

The men’s 5000m final will take place on Saturday 8 June and the men’s 1500m final will take place on Wednesday 12 June.

Credit photo: Colombo\FIDAL

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Long jump legend Fiona May will be Roma 2024 Ambassador

The athletics legend Fiona May will be Ambassador of the European Athletics Championships to be held in Rome from 7 to 12 June at the Olympic Stadium and the Foro Italico Park (tickets on sale here).

The collaboration between the long jump legend and the EuroRoma 2024 Foundation (LOC) represents an important synergy between a sports icon and one of the most important events of 2024.

After a career full of glory, Fiona May is keeping his commitment to promoting sport and its values, and now she is ready to join the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships team. The legend will take part in the upcoming institutional initiatives and communication activities to promote the Championships.

“I am honoured to be Ambassador of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships. I am really excited to take part in the event with such an important role. It will be great to share this amazing experience with the new champions of Italian and international athletics,” says Fiona May, who has represented excellence in athletics for years. Born in Slough in the UK in 1969, after starting her career with the British national team she joined the Italian national team from 1994, winning two world gold, silver and bronze medals and two Olympic silver medals in the long jump. She is still the Italian record holder in the speciality (7.11 metres). 

This passion for athletics and long jump has also been passed on to her daughter Larissa Iapichino, who has followed in her footsteps and currently holds the World Under-20 and Italian indoor records in the long jump.

The programme of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships includes six consecutive days of competition and eleven sessions in total. The women’s long jump qualification will take place at 10.35 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 June, while the final is scheduled for 8.54 p.m. in the last evening session on Wednesday, 12 June. The closing of the Championships promises to be exciting, with ten finals scheduled, including the women’s and men’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Karsten Warholm, a gladiator is coming back to Rome

How many stars at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships. In addition to Mondo Duplantis, Femke Bol and the Italian champions, the fans are waiting at the Olympic Stadium for the world record holder in the 400 hurdles Karsten Warholm, one of the most acclaimed athletes.

The 28-year-old Norwegian triumphed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games with the sensational world record of 45.94, and now he is at the same time Olympic, World and European champion. With just over a month to go, he is aiming to win his third consecutive continental title in Rome after Berlin 2018 and Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships.

Warholm will be competing at the Olympic Stadium for the semi-finals on the morning session of Monday 10 June, while the final is scheduled for the evening session of Tuesday 11 June.

It will be an amazing night  that will also feature the final of the men’s high jump with the great expectation for the Italian captain Gianmarco Tamberi and the final of the women’s 400 hurdles with another world-class athlete like Femke Bol, as well as much more (tickets on sale here).

Warholm‘s career says a lot about his incredible talent (one Olympic gold medal, three World titles, two European outdoor titles and two indoor titles) but it is also his friendly character, his leadership, his iconic shout and his famous ‘slaps’ with which he charges into the starting blocks that have made him an icon of  athletics in the world.

A warrior spirit that transformed him into a Coliseum gladiator in the celebratory graphic with which the European Athletics announced his participation on social media accounts.

His power is impressive: he boasts five of the best ten times of all eras in the 400 hurdles and with his feat in Tokyo, anticipated by 46.70 in Oslo, he managed to erase an historical record, which had stood for almost thirty years, Kevin Young’s 46.78 in Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, dragging the speciality into a new dimension.

In Rome, Warholm has already raced twice at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond League meetings, in the 2018 (second) and 2020 editions, when he scored one of his eighteen Diamond League victories.

The Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships await him on the new Olympic Stadium track, for a new chapter in his exciting career.

Credit photo: Colombo\FIDAL

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Hughes targets golden double at Roma 2024

Tunnel vision is a common trait within world class sprinters. And as one of the most decorated 100m and 200m runners of recent years, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes is no different.

His eyes are firmly focussed on the most sought after prizes at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, which take place on 7-12 June (tickets on sale here).

“My hopes and dream for Rome is going out there and capturing the gold medal in the 100m and also in the 4x100m,” Hughes told European Athletics new podcast series Ignite.

“For me, I’m going out there to have fun and executing a very good race and forgetting about the likes of ‘who are the favourites?’ Even if that includes myself being a favourite – which I should be. I just want to go there and get this title. 

“We’ve been pretty close to it in 2022 when I got dipped on the line. This time I want it and this time I am going for it.”

Hughes has had an eventful history with the European Athletics Championships.

In his first appearance in Amsterdam 2016, he limped out of the 200m heats with injury. But he returned two years later in Berlin to set a championship record of 9.95 to win 100m gold. He was edged out by Italian Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in Munich, who equalled Hughes’ championship record as he relegated the British athlete to silver by 0.04. However, Hughes returned to take 200m gold in 20.07 in Munich.

But he will be focussed on the shorter sprint in Roma, where he is racing headlong to a rematch with Jacobs. The Italian is fit again and on home territory, a formidable adversary for Hughes. Now he is 28 and having won 100m bronze at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hughes is a seasoned sprinter and a match for anyone.

He is able to produce his best, even in the most high pressure situations. And on the Ignite podcast, he gave a fascinating insight into the intensity of championship level sprinting.

“One of the most intensifying feelings you could probably experience is when you enter the stadium and have to set your blocks,” he says. “That can be very intimidating. Sometimes you go there and the crowd is so loud man. 

“You can feel the different egos from the other athletes as they are on the line with you, hear other athletes as they are setting their blocks. That’s where people can decide to play a little mind games. 

“You know you have to have that belief in yourself where no matter what’s happening around you, who’s next to you, who’s had the fastest time on paper leading up to this moment, you just have to remember you and no-one else. 

“It’s all about you at this moment. It’s not about the crowd. It’s not about the media. It’s not about your coach. It’s not about the sponsors. It’s all about yourself right now. You just have to dial in those nerves, got to control the nerves and keep in mind that you belong here, you can achieve this and allow yourself to go ahead and do it.”

Hughes, Jacobs, world record breakers Femke Bol (Netherlands), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) and Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) are among the stars competing at Roma 2024. The men’s 100m final will take place on Saturday 8 June at the Stadio Olimpico.

Credit photo: Getty Images

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Tamberi illuminates Roma 2024: “The Olympic Stadium is magic, I must win a gold medal”

The flagbearer of Italy at the next Olympics Games Gianmarco Tamberi is ready to light up the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, scheduled from 7 to 12 June at the Olympic Stadium and the Foro Italico Park. “I must win and confirm the gold medal I won two years ago,” said the Italian captain who was chosen together with the fencer Arianna Errigo as the representative of Italian sport in the ceremony to be held in Paris on July 26th. 

The European Championships in Rome will be more than a test before Paris for Tamberi, who is the actual Olympic, World and European champion and is determined to become the first athlete in history to triumph in two consecutive editions of the Olympics in the high jump, but also to confirm the European record after winning already in Amsterdam 2016 and Munich 2022.

The European Championships in Italy and the embrace of the public, always enthusiastic about his spirit as a showman in the competition, will be able to give him the right push and extra energy, “even if I won’t be in full shape yet. The magic of the Olimpico will be able to help me even where my preparation doesn’t reach” explains Tamberi.

The date to keep in mind for Rome 2024 is Tuesday 11 June, when the high jump men final will take place at 8.35pm. But all the fans attending the Olympic Stadium will already be able to see him in action on the morning of Sunday 9 June, from 11.35 am, in the qualifying round (tickets on sale here).

‘Gimbo‘ Tamberi completed a unique collection of gold medals at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships: during his career he won Olympics, World Athletics Championships, European Athletics Championships, World Athletics Indoor Championships and European Athletics Indoor Championships. He also added two Diamond League titles.

There is a long love story between Tamberi and the Olympic Stadium which is confirmed year after year: the last time, at the ‘Golden Gala Pietro Mennea’ Diamond League meeting, two seasons ago, he put on a show near the Curva Sud stands, between jumps, selfies with fans and autographs. He have always considered the Olympic Stadium as one of his favorite venue. At the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships he will also have the opportunity to break a negative streak: he has never managed to win at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meeting in the four editions held at the Olympic Stadium in Rome (he finished second in 2020, third in 2016 and 2022, fourth in 2019) and he will not want to miss the opportunity next june.

Furthermore, the Italian star,  who will turn 32 on 1 June, will return to compete in Italy after two years: he will be missing from the Italian Athletics Championships held in Rieti in June 2022. One more reason to return to see him live.

Credit photo: Colombo\FIDAL

By Admin EAC Roma2024

Enter the Roma 10k at the European Athletics Championships

Runners will have a rare opportunity to race on a European Athletics Championships course at Roma 2024, by taking part in the Roma 10K during the championships which take place 7-12 June.

The Roma 10k will take place on Sunday 9 June from 10:15am, starting and finishing at the Fori Imperiali, the same iconic location in the heart of Rome where shortly before, the official half marathon of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships will start.

The unique event will bring together runners and amateurs from all over the world to take part in the Roma 10K, a competitive and non-competitive 10km mass race. It’s an opportunity for regular runners to experience a true championship atmosphere in one of the world’s great cities.

Registration for the Roma 10K is open here.

As well as entry for the race, participants will get an official race bib, a technical jersey made by the Official Supplier of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships Karhu and a ticket valid to enter the Olympic Stadium during the morning session on Saturday 8 June of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.

The Roma 10K course will partly follow that of the half marathon included in the official programme of the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships (men’s start 9:00am and women’s start 9:30am), touching some of the most iconic spots of the Eternal City: the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona, before coming back to the Fori Imperiali.

Registration for the competitive Roma 10K is scheduled to close on 3 June, while the deadline for the non-competitive race will be 8 June. 

The first registered athletes will be able to purchase the race pack at the promotional price of 20EUR, and there is also a special deal for sports clubs: for every 10 participating athletes, one will be able to register for free. The complete regulations of the Roma 10K and the rest of the information are available on the icron.it website.

Tickets and subscription to follow the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, including the 9 June date, are on sale here with prices starting from 5EUR plus pre-sale and service fees.