European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov believes the next generation of continental and global stars will begin their journey at the European Athletics U18 Championships as Rieti prepares to welcome Europe's brightest young talents.
All eight sessions will be broadcast from Rieti 2026 on the European Athletics website* (integrated feed) with English commentary and via the Eurovision Sport platform with addition French commentary where there will also be feeds dedicated to showing full field events.
Speaking at Wednesday's (15) pre-event press conference alongside Italian Athletics Federation President Stefano Mei, Karamarinov highlighted the significance of the championships as a launchpad for future success.
Future stars
"So many stars start their path from these championships, now they are on the top, and I am sure that tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the next four days, we will see our future top stars, our future European, world and Olympic champions."
The European Athletics U18 Championships were first staged in Tbilisi in 2016 after European Athletics chose to continue investing in the age-group following World Athletics' decision to discontinue a global U18 championships.
Since then, the event has been held in Gyor, Jerusalem and Banska Bystrica, with Rieti finally hosting the championships after being re-awarded the event following the postponement of the planned 2020 edition because of the pandemic.
Reflecting on that journey, Karamarinov said: "It is a great story we started in 2016 after the decision that World Athletics decided they would stop with this age category at the global level. But at European Athletics we decided that this age category is very important for young athletes and for our future top stars."
"An athletics city"
Karamarinov also praised Italy's enduring passion for athletics and its recent success in staging major European events.
"Rieti is an athletics city. Italy is an athletics country. We still live with a great memory from Roma 2024. Just two months ago, it was a very successful delivery of the European 10,000m Cup in La Spezia."
While medals will be won over the next four days, Karamarinov stressed that the championships offer much more than sporting success.
"It's not only the top results, not top performances. Sport creates something which is with us for life. It's great friendships. It's a little bit challenging, but challenges are also opportunities. They are opportunities to have relationships with your colleagues, and these relationships will stay with you for the rest of your life."
Drawing on his own experiences as the 1986 European 10,000m champion, Italian Athletics Federation President Stefano Mei encouraged the athletes to embrace the occasion.
"I remember even better when I was like you, 16, 17, 18, because it's the best time for an athlete. Because you run, jump, throw and everything you do with at least a smile on your face, and you should not think about the result, but just enjoy."
*geoblocking applies in territories where Rieti 2026 is being covered by a national broadcaster