Opened on September 5th, the new Mário Ribeiro Cantarino Filho Athletics Complex modernized the sports infrastructure of the UnB Olympic Center (CO), with an investment of around R$18 million. The two tracks, one for competitions and the other for warm-ups, total almost 29,000 m² and follow global sporting standards.
In addition to the structure, the complex has a lighting system that will contribute to sporting activities at night and equipment for shot put, javelin and hammer, high, long and pole jumps. The objective is to enable the training of grassroots athletes and the improvement of high-performance athletes, in addition to contributing to the learning of the student body.
A Physical Education student for two years, Henrique Araújo says he followed the reform closely. “When I joined the course, the work really started to evolve and I saw all the transformations. I hope that the entire UnB community can take advantage, as it will improve the quality of student learning and bring high-level competitions to Brasília”, says the student.
Biotechnology student at UnB and two-time national under-20 bronze medalist in athletics, Lucca Campbell participated in the opening race. “All the athletes loved seeing the new track. We only have one other in Brasília with the same standards and it is difficult to access, as it belongs to the army”, comments Lucca.
Lucca Campbell (in black, on the left) participated in the symbolic 100-meter dash at the inauguration of the track, along with other athletes from the capital. Photo: André Gomes/Secom UnB
“I trained on the opening day and the structure is wonderful, both for students and athletes in the city. It will give a lot of visibility to the sport and a new breath of fresh air for our (Athletics) Federation, which was in decline”, says the university student, who started the sport under the influence of his father, also an athlete and university professor. He states that today he trains wherever he can, but he intends to use the space in his athletic preparation.
An athlete for 11 years, the Physical Education student and president of the University’s Athletics Club, Abner Felipe Costa, was happy with the revitalization of the space. “I trained there for many years, until the track closed. Today I train in Guará, but I intend to prepare again there in CO”, reveals the four-time finalist of the Brazilian University Games (JUBs) for UnB.
“I see the renovation of the track as an improvement in our standards. UnB has a large number of professional athletes in the area and, sometimes, with the demand of the course we are unable to go out to train. With this track, achieving high performance will be easier and we can even host major competitions”, says Abner.
“I thought the tracks were very beautiful and it was the first time I saw a blue track. I really want to train there, as it would be a closer option for me”, says Higor Caldeira, deaf athlete and Physical Education student at UnB. He says he started the sport at the age of four under the influence of his father, a former track and field athlete for the Canadian national team, where Higor started the sport.
In Brazil, he started to compete for the Brazilian team, having placed 3rd in the 110 meter hurdles, at the world athletics competition for the deaf, in Poland, in 2021. “I was happy because, for the first time, the start was with a flare , a fairer and more appropriate way, without the sound of a gun”, recalls the student. He highlights that the accessibility of the new track has points that need to be improved. “There is a lack of tactile flooring and signage for the blind and ramps for wheelchair users”, he lists.
USE – This is the first renovation since the inauguration of the CO, 52 years ago. It took ten years of work. After the official inauguration, activities have not yet been fully released. The responsible team is finalizing the preparation of the Usage Rules and Regulations for Athletics Tracks, for approval by the Council of the Faculty of Physical Education (FEF). The standards will be made available on the CO website.
Physical Education student and sprinter Higor Caldeira was runner-up in the Brazilian Deaf Athletics Championship, in 2022, and under-23 state long jump champion, in 2023. Photo: André Gomes/Secom UnB
“We are already receiving requests for authorization to use the tracks and building partnerships with the city’s athletes. Requests can be forwarded to the CO Secretariat and the tracks should be released in about a month”, explains Alexandre Rezende, professor at FEF and collaborator in the process of creating the project, partnerships and management model.
“We are also building partnerships with the DF Athletics Federation (FAtDF) and with the Sports Management of the Department of Education. In addition to the Department of Sports and Leisure, which has the Futuro Campeão project, the Sports School and the Olympic Centers, so that they can set up a specific athletics class and schedule training for athletes at UnB”, says Alexandre.
According to the professor, people from the external community will be able to use the complex by paying a fee for using the CO’s sports facilities, which includes the athletics tracks. For the internal community, academic and community activities, use will be free, as long as it is supervised by a teacher or physical education professional.
Another highlight are the competitive events, which must be held at least once a month. The Federal District Athletics Federation has already forwarded an expected annual calendar, which includes the Campeonato Brasiliense Loterias Caixa de Atletismo in various modalities.
The DF School Games and the Brazilian University Games (JUBs) will also be part of the agenda, which depend on UnB applying and being chosen as the host.
“We also have a proposal to create a Sports Training Center for long-distance, middle-distance and athletic walking events, events in which Brasília has a tradition and special training conditions, at altitudes above 1,000 meters, in partnership with the Brazilian Confederation. of Athletics and the DF Athletics Federation. And also the expectation of creating a Sports Initiation Center (CID) for Athletics at UnB, in partnership with the DF Secretary of Education”, says the professor.
Accustomed to the routine of training excellent athletes and discovering new talents, the founder of the Sobradinho Athletics Center (CASO), João Sena, says he dreams of using the UnB tracks to expand opportunities for developing athletes in the capital.
Lucas Scaravelli (left) was an athlete for 28 years and won several medals representing UnB. João Sena (right) is a coach of several sporting talents in the city. Photo: André Gomes/Secom UnB
“We have already asked for permission to train on the tracks and we will be part of the work at the complex. This track could host a world championship, which makes me excited, but the most important thing is to use it frequently and fill it with athletes”, celebrates the coach.
TRIBUTE – The complex was named after Mário Ribeiro Cantarino Filho, in honor of the sports pioneer in the Federal District, former president of the Brasiliense Athletics Federation and professor at UnB. Passed away in 2012, he would have turned 93 years old on the date of the inauguration of the complex to which he gave his name.
The professor is also a source of inspiration for graduate Lucas Scaravelli. Graduated in Pedagogy and Physical Education and master in Physical Education from UnB, he wrote his master’s thesis on the honoree.
“Cantarino is one of the pioneers to question performance physical education that strives for results, records and medals, proclaiming a school physical education that has social languages and critical citizenship training for young people and children”, highlights Lucas.
An athlete in the base and professional categories of athletics competitions for 28 years, Lucas stood out as one of the top four in the country in long-distance and race walking events, he was six-time Brazilian university champion (JUBS) in the 5 and 10 thousand meter events and is still the Brazilian and South American university record holder in the 5,000 meter sprint.
Retired seven years ago, Lucas is now a professor and researcher in São Paulo. “The UnB athletics tracks were my sporting home for many years, the old coal tracks and the grass and dirt trails of CO were where I made several preparations for national and international competitions”, he reveals emotionally.
“Talking about UnB is talking about a socio-emotional relationship and a considerable part of my existence, which is why today I train to be a professor at UnB”, shares the graduate.
*Secom UnB
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