Rieti is beginning to feel the atmosphere of the European Athletics U18 Championships. Three days before the start of competition, the first international teams have already reached the city, officially opening the week that will bring the best of European youth athletics to the Raul Guidobaldi Stadium.
On Monday 13 July, the delegations of France, Germany, Ireland and Croatia arrived in Rieti, with around 220 people including athletes, coaches and team staff. This is the first group of the more than 2,000 people expected in Rieti among teams and staff, while tomorrow all the remaining delegations from the 48 participating nations will complete their arrivals.
Before reaching Rieti and the Guidobaldi Stadium, the national teams were welcomed at Fiumicino Airport. The arrival operations for the international delegations were also made possible thanks to the collaboration with Aeroporti di Roma, national sponsor of the event, which supported the teams’ reception procedures at the Roman airports, the first point of entry into Italy for young athletes arriving from across Europe.
With hotels starting to fill up and the first delegations already working on accommodation, accreditation procedures and venue inspections, the organizational machine has now entered its final stage.
In the coming days, athletes will become familiar with the Guidobaldi Stadium and the warm-up area ahead of the start of competition on Thursday 16 July. More than 1,100 athletes will compete for European U18 titles over four intense days of competition, confirming Rieti as the European capital of youth athletics.
And there is another highlight before the first races: on the eve of the championships, all national teams will take part in the opening ceremony parade through the city centre. A colourful and festive procession will cross the heart of Rieti, starting from Piazza Cavour and arriving at Piazza Cesare Battisti, the central stage of the event.
Ticket sales continue to grow. The Velino stand is now close to a sell-out for both individual session tickets and four-day passes, while seats remain available in the Terminillo Grandstand, with tickets starting from €5 for a single day and a four-day pass available for €15.
Tickets can be purchased online through TicketOne and directly at the stadium ticket office, located at the PalaCordoni opposite the Guidobaldi Stadium, which opened today.