Computer animation of the new green track in Stuttgart (© Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart)
Those watching the soccer matches during the FIFA World Cup that take place in the "Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion" Stuttgart, Germany in June, will be the first to witness a pioneering, though quite straightforward, change to the stadium which hosted the 4th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 1993, and which will be the venue for three years of the IAAF World Athletics Final.
But those in the stadium or watching via TV need not worry about their eye sight or try to adjust the picture on their monitors, as nobody is hallucinating. Yes, everything does look very green, and we are not just talking about the grass on the infield!
After discussions with the German Athletics Federation and the IAAF and some other interested institutions, Stuttgart’s stadium’s sporting facilities will all be green in the near future, including the 400m track.
Around the world there are many different coloured tracks, red, blue, black, multi-coloured..., there are even green indoor ovals but as far as the Stuttgart Sports Department knows, theirs will be the first ever green surfaced outdoor track in the world.
Because of the Soccer World Cup, six of whose matches will be played in the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, the plan was initially to cover the existing red track with green coloured synthetic turf.
However, as the track was to be renewed anyway, because of the 4th IAAF World Athletics Final taking place there in September (9 / 10), that plan was cancelled. The stadium authorities had simply asked and then answered themselves the question - why not just resurface the track in a green colouring, and so solve both footballs' and athletics' requirements at the same time?
"The initiative was not born because of the Soccer World Cup, we didn’t spend a lot of additional money, but we killed two birds with one stone,” said Günther Kuhnigk from the Stuttgart Sports Department.
Even the most critical people from the first league football club, VfB Stuttgart, didn’t say anything against this solution which perhaps is its great recommendation. It is no secret that the football club had fought for a stadium without an athletic track.
The compromise is of course to athletics favour, and with three editions of the World Athletics final in the stadium, the prospects for the long term future of the sport are good in Stuttgart
290,000 Euros will be the cost of the investment but in Stuttgart everybody is convinced that every cent will be worth it.
It is enough to clean the old track and sweep the granulate material away, and after that a five millimetre thick green covering will be placed on top. The work will take just one week to complete.
"We have seen the result already on a Computer animation", said Kuhnigk (see photo at the top of this story).
The sectors for the jumps and throwing events will also become green. "I am sure that it will be original", said the leader of the Stuttgart Sports Department. "I think it will be a compromise for everybody, for the FIFA and for the Athletics family, because the change from the grass to the track will be harmonious."
And maybe green will become the fashionable colour of the Athletics World in future. Who knows?
Ursula Kaiser for the IAAF