Cross Urbano Caixa is the attraction this Saturday with a night race at Mangueirão, in Belém
The start for the 1,500 athletes will be at 7 PM in the capital of Pará, for a 6k course within the stadium, in the second of seven stages of the running circuit for this 2025 season
With the support of the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Sports and Leisure (Seel), the Cross Urbano Caixa running circuit arrives in Belém this Saturday (12). A night race, starting at 7 PM, at the Olympic Stadium of Pará – Journalist Edgar Proença, known as Mangueirão, which will gather more than 1,500 participants for a 6k course. This is the second stage of the 2025 edition, which began in May in Guará (DF), the first to be held at night. In total, there will be seven stages throughout the season.
The athletes use the structure of Mangueirão as a true playground, running within its premises, taking an Olympic lap on the grass, the inner ring - upper and lower, the access ramps, the parking lot, and around the arena/stadium.
“This moment is special for all competitors, a race held for the first time in Pará and at Mangueirão. More than 1,500 athletes registered for this sports celebration that counts with the support of the Government of Pará,” said Secretary Cássio Andrade.
An unforgettable experience for competitors, to run inside the stadium at night and also for those who will cheer. Family members, friends, as well as the general public can watch the race from the stands, seeing the Olympic lap on the grass and the award ceremony.
“There is a huge expectation for this second stage within the premises of Mangueirão, with athletics being the highlight in the capital of Pará on Saturday night,” says organizer Freddy Carvalho.
The Olympic Stadium of Pará – Journalist Edgar Proença, known as Mangueirão, was built in the 1970s and restructured in 2023, transformed into one of the main multi-purpose arenas in the northern region of the country.
Support for two social projects – The Belém stage will support the presence of athletes from two projects developed in Pará: there are ten spots for the Social Project Barefoot Flying High and 30 for the Athletics Project Boys from the Village.
The Barefoot Flying High project, founded in 2019, was conceived by athlete Deborah dos Remédios Valente, Pará's record holder in the 100 meters. The project was born from the desire to transform lives through sports, offering children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability a healthy, dignified, and transformative alternative.
“I saw in sports a powerful tool for inclusion, discipline, and the recovery of self-esteem. Today we have 22 active athletes — and all these young people have become federated athletes, representing the State of Pará in state and national competitions since 2019 to today. The project's participation in Cross Urbana Caixa 2025 is a watershed moment. More than a competition, the opportunity offers visibility, encouragement, and hope,” highlights Deborah.
The Boys from the Village is located in the municipality of Acará (Vila Colatina) and started in 2009, with students from the Casemiro Francisco de Paiva school. It aims to provide opportunities for children, young people, and adults to leave idleness and seek a healthy life, away from the dangers that the world offers, such as crime, drugs, and prostitution.
“Every year we have the athletics selection, and our project classified the first school athlete who left the municipality of Acará to compete in a national stage, in Natal (RN). And after that, others came. We have a third-place medal in the 1,500 meters in 2023. And at the end of June, we participated in the 2025 selection and classified five athletes for the national phase, in Brasília (DF) and Uberlândia (MG),” explains coach Lins Barbosa.
Stadium races - Known as stadium races, the Cross Urbano Caixa was launched in 2014, the year of the World Cup in Brazil. It came to promote the multi-use of arenas. Since then, there have been 26 stages in the largest football stadiums in Brazil. The idea of the event is not to use public roads, in a concept running circuit.
Belém is the first of a total of five night races in 2025, also moving Saturday night in Teresina (PI), Fortaleza (CE), Maceió (AL), and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The calendar is completed with two daytime races – Guará (already held) and Campinas (SP). The Cross Urbano Caixa is organized by Corpore Sano, sponsored by Caixa and the Federal Government. The Belém stage has the support of the State Secretariat of Sports and Leisure - Government of Pará.
2025 Calendar
25/05 - Guará - Brasília (DF) - daytime - held
12/07 - Estádio Mangueirão - Belém (PA) - nighttime
19/07 - Estádio Albertão - Teresina (PI) - nighttime
10/08 - Estádio Moisés Lucarelli - Campinas (SP) - daytime
06/09 - Arena Castelão - Fortaleza (CE) - nighttime
04/10 - Estádio Rei Pelé - Maceió (AL) - nighttime
01/11 – Parque Olímpico da Barra – Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - nighttime
