Medellin’s not so hidden sporting gem

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For fitness, physical activities and fierce competition one place in Medellin beats the rest hands down. The Estadio complex is one of, if not, the best sporting facility in Colombia.

The iconic Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot, or “el Estadio” as it is known, is a hive of sporting activity with people from all over the city swarming there daily to participate in a variety of events.

From soccer to fencing, from volleyball to weightlifting, Estadio has it all. Indeed it seems you would be hard pressed to desire a sport which this complex doesn’t cater for.

Located in the north of the city Estadio includes several giant swimming pools complete with diving facilities, an athletics track, five indoor domes with equipment for a variety of sports, several multi-purpose fields, an outdoor skate track, a velodrome and an outdoor chess board.

It is also set next to the Estadio Atanasio Girardot soccer stadium where Atletico Nacional and fierce rivals Independiente Medellin host their home matches.

What strikes most upon walking around this fabulous facility is how sport seems to have engulfed everyone who is there. No corridors and no sections of spare land are wasted with people flexing muscles, practicing gymnastic routines or simply running to maintain fitness and enjoy themselves.

On the many courts and pitches scattered around there is constant competition between participants, whether it be handball, basketball or volleyball.  On weekends in particular Estadio plays host to tournaments for schools and sports clubs across the city.

It is hard not to get infected with the sporting bug when in or around the vicinity. And the good news for those wanting to participate is that most activities are free. The only thing required is to turn up present your health insurance certificate and away you go.

Thousands already have and whatever time of day you decide to go you will discover a place buzzing with activity. Even if you are not keen on participating it is worth going as a spectator to witness the huge variety of sports on offer.

Each dome has seating around the perimeter while the outside facilities also have copious amounts of room for an audience. Food and drink stalls are sprinkled along the boulevards enabling you to enjoy a fruit juice or coffee while in attendance.

It has not, however, always been this luxurious or well built. The site was a stark contrast to its current state prior to the 2010 South American Games.

After Medellin was chosen to host the games a huge investment totaling $175 million was needed to refurbish the site into what it is now.

The project proved a success and so did the games with Colombia even topping the medal table ahead of Brazil in this multi-sport event.

Thanks to its popularity Medellin is now in the running to host the Olympic Games in 2018, albeit for the youth Olympics, but nevertheless it would be another fine scalp for Colombia’s second biggest city.

Estadio has come on leaps and bounds since the first structure was built in 1953 and Medellin has seen the area blossom into a sporting complex they can be truly proud of.

Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot is a great exponent of bringing people together through sport. It is quite simply one of Medellin’s not so hidden treasures and a must visit for all those interested in physical activities.