Joaquín Villar Stadium Faces Prolonged Neglect Yet Calls for Urgent Reform
The Joaquín Villar athletics stadium has long been flagged by the Spanish Federation as at risk of losing homologation if necessary repairs are not undertaken. Those warnings proved accurate. The facility’s visible wear, persistent maintenance gaps, and overall sense of neglect have disrupted official athletics events and left competitions off the calendar for the foreseeable future. Athletes, clubs, and users voice daily complaints, and visiting competitors from other nations note similar signs of aging when a track looks forgotten. Although the City Council began a reform plan in 2021, progress remains slow, and a broader modernization of the sports sector is clearly needed across the region.
Cracks in the tartan track cover are widespread, creating safety concerns for athletes. Breaks in the launch cage and a range of other deteriorations compound the risk. The long jump pit shows serious wear, and a newly acquired pole vault mat suffered vandal damage at a site that remains accessible around the clock. Ongoing neglect has even forced manual repairs to surrounding fences, underscoring the scope of the maintenance challenge. (Source: local sport authorities)
Lighting issues compound the problem. Night sessions are difficult because many lamps fail to operate, a problem that has persisted for years despite repeated complaints from paying users seeking access to the facility. (Source: Alicante Athletics Club)
Sergio Berbegal, a coach and the president of Alicante Athletics Club, describes the situation as unsustainable. He has consistently urged repair and modernization of the track and the entire venue, lamenting the deterioration brought on by neglect. Paralympics athlete Iván Cano has previously been associated with the club, highlighting the broader appeal and the importance of reliable facilities for all athletes. (Source: club records)
“The holes in the launch cage pose a real danger because discs could fly out and injure a user,” warned the trainer, stressing that much of the damage stems from a lack of upkeep and routine maintenance. (Source: training staff)
Alicante City Council opened a bidding process in September 2021 for a renovation of Joaquín Villar stadium with an initial budget of 1,297,349.90 euros. The plan aimed to upgrade the eight-lane track and equipment, create an artificial turf training corridor, stabilize concrete slabs around the north, south, and east perimeters, and install a biologically healthy circuit in the south and north yard kiosks, among other improvements. A separate energy-efficiency contract was meant to replace luminaires to complete the upgrade. For now, officials are awaiting progress on their defined timelines. (Source: municipal procurement notices)
Joaquín Villar: “It saddens me to see the track that bears my name come to rags”
In public comments, the figure behind the project expresses disappointment at the state of a venue that carries his name. He emphasizes the human cost of deferred maintenance, noting athletes’ dependence on a safe, functional environment for training and competition. The broader message is clear: timely investment in sports infrastructure is essential to preserve opportunities for local athletes and to attract regional events that boost community vitality. (Source: interview excerpts)