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The Palio dei Comuni returns to the spotlight at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea – Presented by IP, scheduled for Friday, June 6, at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, and it’s doing so in grand style. A total of 100 relay teams will take part in the much-anticipated youth event, which has been confirmed as part of the official program of the Italian leg of the Wanda Diamond League. Over a thousand young athletes from all over Italy will compete in the 12×200 heats starting at 4:00 PM.
It will be a great celebration of sport, enthusiasm, and the future, with young athletes lighting up the champions’ stadium. And for all participants, there will be the chance to enjoy the Diamond League spectacle from the stands of the Stadio Olimpico once their racing adventure is over.
For the nine finalist teams, there’s a special moment at 8:41 PM: they will wear the official jersey of Rieti 2026, the major youth athletics event scheduled for July 16–19 next year, when the Guidobaldi Stadium will host the European Athletics U18 Championships.
This is a symbolic and strategic choice by the Golden Gala organizers and the Rieti 2026 organizing committee, who wanted to connect one of the most beloved and widely participated youth events in Italy with what will be the most important continental competition.
The jersey was recently presented to Mattia Furlani, who has a special connection to the Palio dei Comuni, having competed in it during his middle school years, when he dreamed of becoming a track and field star. After his test competition concluded with an excellent 8.31m jump at Guidobaldi, he received the jersey from Rieti 2026 President Riccardo Guerci, Secretary General Federico Rinaldi, and Rieti’s Sports Councillor Chiara Mestichelli.