Competition is only one part of the championship experience. At the Rieti 2026 European Athletics U18 Championships, track and field took centre stage, but behind the scenes a safer and more supportive and inclusive culture for the sport’s next generation was being shaped.
Building on its successful debut in Tampere last year, the Athletes' Zone returned to Rieti as part of European Athletics’ ongoing Race for Respect initiative. Designed as a dedicated space for young competitors to connect, unwind and recharge, the zone brought together fun, peer learning and holistic well-being.
Centered around a Youth for Youth philosophy and supported by young international volunteers from five Member Federations, the zone gave athletes a welcoming environment to build friendships across borders while exploring the core values of safe sport.
Play, connect and learn
Throughout the four-day championships, the Athletes' Zone showed that learning works best when it’s interactive. Athletes engaged with important topics such as mental health, social media literacy and respect through tailored, athlete-friendly challenges.
A major highlight was the interactive Escape Game, where team-building and problem-solving were paired with real-life safeguarding scenarios, encouraging young participants to think critically about safe environments.
Alongside the popular Quiz Corner, interactive Own Your Lane Social Media Workshops offered practical guidance on digital well-being, online safety and maintaining authenticity in elite sport.
Whether testing their knowledge, stepping into the photo booth, visiting the tattoo station or simply relaxing with competitors from across Europe in the Athlete Lounge, young athletes were given a unique space to belong.
"More than words on paper" – Safeguarding in action
While the Athletes' Zone provided an engaging atmosphere, European Athletics also reinforced its operational commitment to athlete safety across the entire championships.
Dedicated Safeguarding Officers from both European Athletics and the Local Organising Committee were stationed on the ground throughout the event, providing clear information, establishing reporting framework networks, and ensuring accountability across all levels.
European Athletics has adopted a firm zero-tolerance approach to abuse of any nature, with the explicit goal of creating a healthy environment where every participant, from athletes and coaches to volunteers, can participate with total peace of mind.
The significance of this deployment was strengthened by the presence of European Athletics Council Member and Safeguarding Champion Anne Farseth. Reflecting on the impact of the initiative in Rieti, Anne emphasised that educating under-18 athletes is vital for the future of the sport.
“They are the athletes for the future, and they are also role models when they return home to their clubs,” she says. “It’s extremely important for them to be able to tell everyone that a safe environment matters, that you are listened to, that you can stand up for yourself, and that there are people who want the best for you.
"Safeguarding is a topic for everybody, and it must be more than words on paper," she adds. “It has to be in practice, it has to be visible and everybody must feel it is their responsibility. My message to an athlete is simple: never be afraid to tell someone if something is bothering you, or if you see something going on with others that is not okay.”
This sentiment resonated directly with the young competitors themselves. When asked in the Rieti Mixed Zone what “respect” meant to them, athletes echoed the core values of the campaign with responses like:
- “Respect starts with treating all people the same, no matter where you come from or how good you are at sports.”
- “Respect starts with being yourself.”
- "Respect starts with fierce competition, but also kindness at the end. Whether you come first or last, always show respect.”
Brand-new podcast series
The positive energy generated in Rieti will now serve as the foundation for a year-round educational library.
During the championships, European Athletics recorded the first series of content for its brand-new Race for Respect podcast, launching in late summer. Recorded live inside the Athletes' Zone, the podcast brings together young athletes, coaches, officials and high-profile ambassadors to discuss topics including safeguarding, human rights, mental health, ethics and integrity.
Among the featured guests involved in the project are prominent athletics figures, including Italy's Alessia Trost, world and european indoor medallist in the high jump and member of the European Athletics Athletes Committee, former European long jump champion Andrew Howe, and Olympic finalist, world bronze medallist and European 400m hurdles champion Periklis Iakovakis.
By capturing authentic conversations with established stars and emerging talents alike, European Athletics is turning a four-day championship into a continuous movement. The upcoming podcast series will ensure that the lessons of respect, safety and inclusion developed in Rieti continue to inspire the athletics community across Europe all year long.