CIAT Unveils New Surfacing on Its Outdoor Court

The Tenerife Athletics Center (CIAT), owned by the Cabildo and managed by the public company Ideco, has unveiled new surfacing on its outdoor track following the completion of the related work, which involved a total investment of 865,927 euros.

Sports Minister Yolanda Moliné highlights the importance of this project, “which gives us a completely renovated track that will allow our athletes to train under the best conditions.” Moliné explains that “we are now taking the necessary steps to have the track certified by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation and also by World Athletics, which must verify that the track meets specific standards regarding design, dimensions, materials, and markings.”

Moliné was accompanied by CIAT Director Caridad Mir; Ernesto R. Rodríguez, president of the Island Athletics Federation; and Mario Pestano, a former Olympic athlete from Tenerife, among others.

In addition to the work carried out on the main court, the Cabildo plans to invest a total of 2.5 million euros this year in the CIAT to undertake various projects that will help improve the facilities and equipment at this world-class sports center, which was built in 2007.

Among the planned projects, the installation of a photovoltaic plant and the replacement of the lighting on the main court with LED technology stand out, at a total cost exceeding 1.2 million euros. These projects have received a grant of more than 543,000 euros from the Next Generation funds.

The strength training equipment in the gym and the indoor area will also be upgraded. The projects planned for this year will be rounded out by the installation in mid-November of an additional throwing cage to complement the existing one, and the replacement of the bleacher seats, for which a call for bids will be issued shortly.

The certification process for the Class II track, which will allow it to host international competitions, will conclude next Wednesday, the 29th, with a visit from RFEA judges, who will conduct the necessary inspections to obtain this certification.

Throwing School

The Tenerife Athletics Center is also kicking off the new season of its “Throwing School” today, which covers both training and technical development under the guidance of former Olympic athlete Mario Pestano.

With the launch of the CIAT Throwing School, the Tenerife Island Council is committed to strengthening this discipline, which—due to safety concerns—has fewer venues for practice and, consequently, fewer specialized athletes.

The Throwing School, along with the installation of a second throwing cage that will increase both the space and the time available for practice, will significantly improve training conditions for this discipline.

This morning, a hands-on activity was held at the facility with students from IES Barranco Las Lajas who are participating in this first session of the season. During the activity, they learned the techniques of this sport, from the grip and starting position to the spin, the throw, and the final release.

The Throwing School focuses primarily on promoting track and field, with a special emphasis on throwing events, and on recruiting athletes from schools across the island to attract new talent to this discipline. In addition, this initiative serves as a resource for the clubs themselves and aims to strengthen this track and field discipline.