BELLINZONA – A thrilling show is in store at the Stadio Comunale for the 2026 edition of GalAthletics Bellinzona. On Sunday, August 30, the Ticino track will host a men’s 100m race worthy of the Diamond League, with every athlete in the first heat boasting a sub-10-second seasonal best this year.
The most anticipated athlete at the starting blocks is Kayinsola Ajayi. The 22-year-old Nigerian is the true breakout star of world sprinting: this season, he set a new national record by clocking 9.84 seconds twice, becoming the only sprinter to claim two Diamond League victories in 2026 with wins in Eugene and London.
Challenging him for the win will be a star-studded lineup. The headliners include newly crowned European champion Romell Glave, fresh off gold medals in both the 100m and 4x100m in Birmingham (SB 9.97), and Emmanuel Eseme, winner of the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a personal best of 9.83. Expectations are also high for Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala (SB 9.94), winner of the Xiamen Diamond League and runner-up in Shanghai, as well as Andre De Grasse (SB 9.95), the 200m Olympic champion and 4x100m world champion who is a perennial crowd favorite in Ticino. Rounding out this world-class field are South Africa’s Akani Simbine (SB 9.97), fourth-place finisher in the Paris Olympic final, USA’s Ronnie Baker (SB 9.88), boasting eight career Diamond League victories, and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (SB 9.94), winner of the 2024 Diamond League Final.
Swiss colors will be represented by Timothé Mumenthaler, European 200m bronze medalist in Birmingham, and William Reais, the reigning Swiss champion. To ensure the home stars compete at the highest international level, organizers have added another top-tier heat featuring additional sub-10-second sprinters running alongside the two Swiss athletes.
The event at the Comunale promises more than just world-class athletics, offering a full day of entertainment for families and sports enthusiasts alike. The day begins at 4:00 PM with the opening of the external Village, featuring food trucks, barbecue, and activities for all ages, which will remain open even after the competition ends.
The Pre-Meeting starts at 5:00 PM, followed by the main International Meeting at 6:10 PM, concluding around 8:10 PM for a convenient journey home. Traveling to the stadium is easy and eco-friendly, as every ticket includes free second-class travel on all public transport across the Arcobaleno fare network in Ticino and Moesano.
