Polytan Rekortan M in Sestriere, Italy
Against a stunning backdrop
Summer, sun and mild evenings – that is how we imagine the dolce vita italiano. But there is more to Italy than that. In Sestriere, for example, which is situated two-thousand metres above sea level at the top of the pass between Val Chisone and the Susa Valley, surrounded by mountains that reach up to three-thousand metres or more and breathtaking scenery in clear weather. The average annual temperature is only 2.9°C, the lowest of all Italian towns and villages. Sestriere regularly hosts races for the Alpine Ski World Cup, and was also the chosen location for Alpine skiing competitions during the Winter Olympics in 2006.
However, the small town, inhabited by barely a thousand people, is not exclusively dedicated to winter spots. The Sestriere Sports Centre, with a total area of 45,000 square metres, is the largest sports centre in Italy, as well as the National Sports Centre of the ASI Nazionale. The heart of the centre is a multifunctional arena with fitness rooms, squash courts and a multipurpose court for tennis, basketball, volleyball and indoor football. It also has a climbing hall and a spa, including a sauna, Turkish baths, whirlpool and a relaxation area.
The grounds include an artificial football field, which is surrounded by an eight-lane competitive running track, built last year. It features Polytan Rekortan M, the professional among our athletics surfaces, which is ideal for track and field activities. The surface is set apart by its outstanding acceleration for quick training and competition times, as well as its step elasticity. In addition, it offers optimal damping and optimally supports healthy athlete physiology. The colour of the track in Rainbow Blue with white markings is practically made for Sestriere with its bright blue skies and white peaks, which are often still covered in snow during the summer.
The sport centre and racing track are also used as an Olympic training centre by the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, the umbrella organisation of the Italian sports associations. What’s more, the Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera (FIDAL), the association for track and field athletics in Italy, uses the facility for training as the racing track is certified in accordance with the requirements of both FIDAL and World Athletics.
