Olympic Stadium

The Stadium of Records

The Olympic Stadium in Rome, inaugurated on May 17, 1953, with the finish of a stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race and a football match between the national teams of Italy and Hungary (0-3), completed and updated the structure of the Stadio dei Cipressi established in 1932. It was later renovated, with the addition of the current roof, in preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

The First Record

Starting from the 1950s, the stadium has been the scene of multiple world records in athletics. The timeline marks 1957 as the year of the first of 29 records, set by Soviet Vladimir Kuts, Olympic gold medalist in the 5000 and 10,000 meters in 1956, who won the 5000 meters in 13:35.0, a record unbroken until 1965 with the arrival of Australian Ron Clarke, a phenomenon in long-distance running.

Rome 1960 Olympics Games

Three years after Kuts’ feat, the stadium hosted the Olympic Games, where 10 world records were set on the Roman track. Italian sprinter Livio Berruti, wearing sunglasses during the race, artistically curved the 200 meters, setting the record in both the semifinal and final, just two hours apart. In the 400 meters, the final featured a sci-fi finish, with American Otis Davis and German Carl Kaufmann tied at the finish line, with Davis winning by a millimeter after a photo finish. In the 1500 meters, Australian Herb Elliott amazed the crowd with a solitary race in the most captivating middle-distance event. The series of male records concluded with the relays: the 4×100 of the Unified Team of Germany, under which athletes from both Germanys competed for three Olympic editions, and the 4×400 of the United States. In the women’s events, there were three records. Two were set by the “Black Gazelle” Wilma Rudolph, surpassing the limit in the 100 meters semifinal and later in the 4×100 relay. The third record, in the 800 meters, was claimed by Soviet Ljudmila Ivanovna Ševcova.

Racewalking enters the Stadium

The year 1961 was special for the Stadio Olimpico because Italian racewalker Abdon Pamich, future winner at the Tokyo Games, set the world records on the track for the 30-mile and 50-kilometer distances.

1974 European Athletics Championships

Forty years after the inaugural edition in Turin, Rome hosted the European Athletics Championships, and the Stadio Olimpico saw its first world records in throwing and jumping events. In total, there were four records, all set by women, three of which were by athletes from the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany: Rosemarie Witschas, the first woman to surpass 2 meters in the high jump, Ruth Fuchs in the javelin, and the sprint relay team. The fourth record was set by Finnish 400-meter runner Riitta Salin.

1987 World Athletics Championships

The Stadio Olimpico hosted the World Championships for the first time with great public participation. Two athletes stood out before an enthusiastic crowd: “The Son of the Wind” Carl Lewis and Bulgarian high jumper Stefka Georgieva Kostadinova, who still holds one of the longest-standing records in world athletics.

The Golden Gala

The Golden Gala, an international meeting conceived in 1980 by Primo Nebiolo and dedicated to the memory of Pietro Mennea since 2013, is the perfect event for pole vaulting: five of the ten world records set at the meeting belong to this discipline, two by Thierry Vigneron, one each by Sergey Bubka, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, and Yelena Isinbaeva. Of the other records, two were set in the 5000 meters by Said Aouita and Moses Kiptanui, two by Hicham El Guerrouj in the 1500 meters and the mile, and one by Norwegian javelin thrower Trine Hattestad.

Ceremonies & Medals

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of European Athletics Championships Roma 2024 takes place on 7 June at 18.05 at at Medal Plaza.

Medal Ceremonies

All Medal Ceremonies (except the Medal Ceremonies for Half Marathon and Half Marathon Team which will take place in the Olympic Stadium) will take place at the Medal Plaza, located next to the Olympic Stadium.

The head-on photo platform will be available for a limited number of photographers (first-come first-serve basis). Details will be provided during the Photo Briefing on 6 June.

Medals 

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.

The main side shows the Colosseum, the official logo of Rome 2024 appears in the centre, while a stylised athletics track embraces the entire medal. The reference to the city’s most symbolic monument not only celebrates the iconic venue of the event, but also underlines the link between ancient and modern competitions.

On the back of the medals, the names of the winning champions will be stamped with their specialities. A total of 147 medals will be awarded during the event, equally divided between 49 gold, 49 silver and 49 bronze medals.

Training venue

Main Warm-up Venue

The main Warm-up venue, Marmi Stadium, is next to Olympic Stadium.  

Throwing events Warm-up & Training Venue

Warm-up and training for all throwing events will be staged at the Farnesina Stadium and will include dedicated areas for Javelin and Discus/Hammer as well.

Official Mascot 

The mascot, inspired by the traditions of Rome and its most famous monument, the Colosseum is called Ludo.

The Ludi in fact, were public games organised by the Roman Empire to entertain people and were scheduled for festivals in the calendar of Ancient Rome. The ‘Ludi Magni’ were dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter and were inaugurated by King Tarquinius Priscus.

In the Latin language, the word ‘ludus’ means play and fun, which will match the spirit of the mascot.

About Italy & Rome

Visitor information

Ten things to know about Italy

Cradle of Western Civilization

Italy is the birthplace of one of history’s greatest civilizations, the Roman Empire. Visiting Rome means walking among millennial7-old ruins like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, a true journey through time.

Gastronomy Paradise

Interesting Fact: “Italy” derives from the Latin word “Italia,” meaning “land of calves” or “land of young livestock.” This name reflects the richness and fertility of Italian land, famous for its agriculture and fresh produce. This is why Italian cuisine is celebrated worldwide. Each region offers unique specialties, from Neapolitan pizza to Roman carbonara, not to mention the fine wines of Tuscany and Parmesan cheese from Emilia-Romagna.

Country with the Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites

With 58 sites, Italy holds the world record for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From Venice and its lagoon to the Dolomites, every corner of the country offers wonders to discover. Italy is the cradle of the Renaissance and hosts 60% of the world’s artistic heritage. Cities like Florence and Rome are true open-air museums, where you can admire masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.

The Vatican: A State within a City

Inside Rome lies Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world. It is the spiritual headquarters of the Catholic Church and hosts the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

The Charm of the Islands

In addition to the peninsula, Italy includes breathtaking islands like Sicily and Sardinia. Paradise beaches, ancient Greek temples, and volcanic landscapes are just some of the attractions they offer.

Fashion as Art

Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Twice a year, the city hosts Milan Fashion Week, attracting designers, celebrities, and enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.

The Industrial Triangle

Northern Italy is a European economic engine, known as the “Industrial Triangle,” comprising Milan, Turin, and Genoa. Here, leading companies in sectors like automotive, technology, and finance are born.

The Mystery of the Language

Italian is a musical and poetic language, derived from Vulgar Latin. But each region has its own unique dialect, some of which are so distinct that they are almost incomprehensible to Italians from other regions.

Passion for Football

Soccer is almost a religion in Italy. With legendary clubs like Juventus, Milan, and Inter, and a national team that has won four World Cups, Italy lives and breathes this sport.

A Country of Innovators

Beyond its historical heritage, Italy is a country of innovation. From the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci to the modern technology of supercars like Ferrari and Lamborghini, Italian ingenuity has always shone. In more recent times, we find “made in Italy” excellence in fashion-tech, food retail, bioplastics, and robotics applied to medicine

City Extension

Rome is the largest city in the European Union. Its perimeter could contain Florence, Turin, Milan, Genoa, Catania, Naples, Bari and Bologna.

Fountains

Rome was the first city to introduce the idea of public fountains with drinking water and, even today, it is the city with the highest concentration of fountains worldwide: more than 2,000, of various shapes and sizes.

Museums

Did you know that residents of Rome, who turn 18 in 2024, have free “Roma Mic Card,” the card that allows them to enter all museums and archaeological and monumental areas managed by the Capitoline Superintendence for Cultural Heritage.

Secret Places

There are many must-see places that are certainly not to be missed during your first visit to Rome. Watch out for new openings, such as the Forma Urbis Museum and the Archaeological Park of the Caelian!

The oldest athletics stadium

Have you ever heard of Domitian’s Stadium? Built by emperor Domitian in 86 A.D., it represents the first permanent Athletics Stadium of the Roman era. At 286 meters long it had a capacity of more than 30,000 spectators and today its remains lie be-neath Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful places in Rome. What remains of the impressive structure today is housed in the Capitoline Museum of the “Stadium of Domitian.”

Giants

Two giants live at the Olympic Village in Rome, and despite being nearly 100 years old, they are not doing so badly. They are the figures in the sculpture “La Corsa,” one of four in the series by Amleto Cataldi, the artist who was commissioned for the National Stadium, the daddy of the Flaminio, during the 1929 renovation. In the direction of Piazza del Popolo. they too were there to welcome spectators when the Italian national soccer team won the World Cup in 1934, but then suffered eviction. The idea of the Olympic Village arose, but was immediately opposed, and today the two giants welcome people to the Market Square.

Parks

Some call them Parks, some call them Villas: “Roma Natura” manages 14 natural areas and 1 marine reserve, amounting in total to about 16,000 hectares, all on Roman territory. From the very central Villa Borghese with its panoramic terraces and the Borghese Museum to the wilder and more imposing Villa Pamphili and Villa Ada, they represent a refuge for those who want to take some relaxation in Nature, for those who like to do outdoor sports or take a nice walk.

Seaside

An old saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome,” but one of them also leads to the sea of Rome, Ostia and its Lido. A district of the Eternal City that winds for almost 14 kilometers along the coastline that runs from the mouth of the Tiber River to the locality of Tor Paterno. A garrison that is as much historical thanks to the presence of the Roman Old Port as it is scenic with the Castel Fusano pine forest and the dunes of the Cancelli coastal strip.

Best panoramic views

Not only walking among the ancient wonders of the city, also discovering characteristic alleys but Rome, however, offers panoramic viewpoints: these are the belvederes from which to admire the Capital from above. Among the most famous and popular ones are the Pincio (in the heart of Villa Borghese), the Gianicolo with its splendid fountain, the elegant Giardino Degli Aranci on the beautiful Aventino without forgetting Castel Sant’Angelo and the Vatican Dome.

Always tell the truth

It is important not to tell lies, especially when you are at the Bocca della Verità, one of Rome’s most famous symbols. Placed since 1632 in the pronaos of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, the ancient mask is linked to a curious and fascinating medieval legend that the mouth could bite the hand of anyone who did not state the truth.