The Purple Path to Greatness: Mondo & The 2024 Paris Olympics
The Mondo Track will have a green-sustainable design. This kind of manufacturing practice allows for reusing tracks once they're replaced.
Highlights
Brace for Mondo's vibrant purple track, a departure from traditional terracotta, is designed to captivate viewers and spotlight athletes.
Look forward to eco-friendly tracks made without microplastics, showcasing Mondo's commitment to sustainability in sports.
Mondo's purple track continues the tradition of record-breaking performances optimized for peak athletic achievement.
When you think about professional athletes and what makes them great, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Factors such as training, nutrition, support system, and luck make it pretty high on that list. When we see an athlete performing, we rarely pay attention to the court, the surface, or the equipment. We just assume it is of the highest quality possible and never care enough to get into the specifics.
This year, Mondo seems determined to make a point and show the world that the seemingly marginal factors matter. Their purple athletics track for this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games is the talk of the town, so let's look at the buzz-worthy Mondo agenda for Paris 2024.
Record-Breaking Mondo Tracks
The purple athletics track that will debut at this year's Games isn't the only Mondo track mentioned in the history books. For decades, the Italian track-and-field surface and sports equipment giant has been supporting the Olympic vision by providing top-of-the-line tracks that seem to be made for record-breaking.Â
Statistics show that over 300 world records have been broken precisely on Mondo tracks, including the Olympic, Paralympic, continental, and world championship stages. Unsurprisingly, Mondo is entrusted with this year's athletic tracks, two of which will be installed at the Stade de France and Annexe for Olympic athlete preparation.
At the Glasgow World Athletics Indoor Championship in March of this year, yet another one of Mondo's lucky tracks was part of a triumph when Devyenne Charlton and Femke Bol set new world records. Following this success, Maurizio Stroppiana, the vice president of Mondo's sports sector, stated, "If they (athletes) succeed, it means that our products contributed and allowed them to perform at their best. World records represent the cherry on top of the cake." A single Mondo track can cost up to 3 million euros, including the production cost.
The Vibrant Purple Athletics Surface
New world records or not, all eyes will be set on the brand-new, vibrant purple Mondo Track athletics surface, replacing the usual terracotta the Olympic universe is used to. Mondo's first encounter with Olympic tracks was in 1976, when they produced the official track for the Montreal Olympics. According to the Mondo team, the new and improved track for Olympic athletes is the best yet produced, optimized for excellent results.
Stroppiana, the sports sector vice president and son of a Mondo founding partner, emphasized that there have been significant changes in the structure of the tracks—specifically, in the design of the lower layer cells. The improved design decreases energy loss and protects the athletes' health by not hindering their technique. Mondo's head of research and development, Andrea Marenghi, explained that the design isn't entirely up to the team, as IOC provides strict criteria regarding the setting and equipment.Â
The choice of color, however, is Mondo's original idea. Their goal was to create a 21,000-square-meter track that would maximize the contrast on television and spotlight the athletes. The track's unique rubber design is also wheelchair-friendly, allowing for proper grip and resistance, which is a must for Paralympic tracks.
The Green Design of the Purple Track
In addition to the eye-catching color and improved structure, the Mondo Track will also have a green-sustainable design. The track is manufactured in Mondo's Gallo d'Alba factory, which meets environmental and quality management standards. The tracks manufactured by Mondo contain no partially encrusted microplastic granules; they're prefabricated and made out of recycled rubber powders using an innovative technology that prevents microplastic release.Â
According to Giorgio Lesage, Mondo's innovation and sustainability director, the production process does not involve fossil products but only oil-free materials with a reduced environmental impact. This kind of manufacturing practice allows for reusing tracks once they're replaced.Â
Athlete-Centric Approach
In its sports flooring design process, Mondo's research and development department heavily relies on feedback from athletes, which is the most accurate, reliable test in their production. Last year, the company invited renowned athletes and world champions to test its new and improved surfaces and provide their expert opinions.Â
The Takeaways
Had they decided to remain within the confines of the traditional Olympic look, no one would be talking about the terracotta track after the Games. However, by announcing a brand new purple surface, Mondo became the talk of the Olympic universe months before the track had even seen the light of day.Â
It is safe to say that Olympic partners should take notes from Mondo, as they've managed to turn a product improvement idea into a headline. What's more, including experienced athletes in the design and testing process is an excellent way to gain much-needed feedback while also being able to advertise the products with their sought-after stamp of approval.
