Rekortan M Retopping and Polytan SMART in Cosenza

Defying Fate

Few towns in Italy could claim to have faced as many challenges as Cosenza, the capital of Calabria, located about 300 km south of Naples. Constant shifts in power gave Cosenza little rest: Romans and Carthaginians contested it, followed by the Byzantines and Lombards, and later the Normans, Spanish, Austrians, and French—all leaving their mark, including widespread destruction. Adding to its plight, Cosenza has been devastated by earthquakes about a dozen times in its history, some flattening the town. Yet, the city has never yielded to adversity and, instead, has experienced remarkable population growth over the past 50 years. Consistently, this city has nurtured talented soccer players, many of whom now play in Serie A and even in the Italian national team. The football club Cosenza Calcio competes successfully in Serie B and hosts its matches at the Stadio San Vito – Gigi Marulla, a stadium also used for athletics events. Nearby, rugby, tennis, and hockey are played.

Just next to the stadium lies the Campo Scuola Cosenza, the training ground of the amateur sports club Cosenza K42 as well as the school sports complex on Via degli Stadi, which underwent significant renovations in 2022. During these works, the six lanes of the track were equipped with Polytan Rekortan M in Hertha Blue, including the sprint track, a dedicated hurdles track, and the long jump and high jump areas. The surface consistency of Rekortan M offers the optimal balance between exceptional shock absorption and maximum acceleration—features appreciated by both middle-distance runners and sprinters. On all other areas within the oval stadium space coated with synthetic surfaces, our Rekortan M shines in Chili Red.

All surfaces were renovated using the Re-Topping method. This process completely renews worn or damaged synthetic surfaces both technically and visually. It’s a particularly cost-effective and sustainable solution for sports facility refurbishment, as existing elastic base layers are retained and do not require disposal. In addition to the upgraded surfaces, Polytan SMART was installed at Campo Scuola Cosenza, our high-precision system for professional performance diagnostics. Primarily used for classic track and field disciplines, this system enables performance optimization through digital diagnostics. Polytan SMART can be integrated into new or existing sports facilities. Once installed, it is available anytime for precise measurement, regardless of weather conditions, and can accommodate multiple athletes simultaneously. This technology enables athletes to record their performances using a body sensor or a smartphone app. In addition to running events, measurements for long jump and pole vault approaches can also be taken at Cosenza. As such, training content and performance can be precisely documented, analyzed, and monitored.

Cosenza will be the first sports facility in southern Italy equipped with this technology. This achievement fills not only Mayor Franz Caruso with pride: “Once national competition approval is obtained, Cosenza can count itself as one of the very few cities with such a state-of-the-art facility—a rarity in southern Italy.” Soon, national-level competitions can also be held here.