News Nearly 400 athletes from 24 countries gave the renovated Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro a complete workout from Saturday (14 May) to Monday, in the last test event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games The competitors were the first in the world to try out the stadium's brand-new blue running track – and they responded with a resounding chorus of approval Athletes who participated in the Ibero-American Athletics Championships, which this year served as a test event for Rio 2016, said they had found the track fast to run on They also appreciated the presence of a lively and excitable Brazilian crowd Dominican sprinter Luguelín Santos, who won silver in the 400m at London 2012 at the age of just 18, also came second in the 400m in Rio on Sunday, behind Yoandris Pardo of Cuba Santos said the running track "is very good and very fast" His comments echoed those of athletics legend Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic 1500m champion and current International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president, who said the track was likely to inspire record-breaking performances The Olympic Stadium was bathed in sunshine for the test event on Sunday  (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro) Although the freshly laid track was in the spotlight, the event tested all of the venue's facilities and infrastructure, including critical services such as timekeeping and results displaying, putting organisers, officials and volunteers through their paces Every little detail needs to be right to deliver pitch-perfect Olympic Games As well as applauding the track, Santos singled out for praise the new method that athletes use for attaching the bibs with their identifying numbers They came with self-sticking adhesive, so competitors did not have to fiddle around with safety pins "It's very easy, quick to attach, and doesn't get in the way of the movement of the arms," Santos said   Between now and the Olympic Games, work will still be carried out on the venue Agberto Guimarães, executive director of sport at Rio 2016, said city authorities will give the stadium a new lick of paint and a general clean-up before the festivities begin Adjustments will also be made to the warm-up track and the athlete changing rooms Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic is one of the rising stars of the 400m (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro) Brazilians top medal table Sporting results from the championship were very satisfying for the hosts Brazil topped the medal table with 52 in total (16 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze), ahead of Colombia and Argentina, while six Brazilian athletes achieved the entry standards set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and qualified for Rio 2016 Jaílma Sales de Lima achieved the Olympic entry standard in the 400m (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro) Among those who booked their place in the Olympic Games was delighted Rio native Fabiana Moraes, who won the 100m hurdle event ahead of countrywoman Maila Paula Machado "All my family are here in the stands, the coaches who gave me my start, my friends These are going to be my first Olympic Games and they are going to be at home in Rio," she said Athletes who had already booked their places at Rio 2016 relished the chance to get to know the venue where they will be competing for Olympic medals in August Brazil's Fabiana Murer, who won the pole vault event here, said "my real aim was to experience the stadium and make the most of the opportunity " Murer won the gold medal at the 2011 world championships Enthusiastic crowd Brazilian and foreign competitors alike said they were lifted by very animated local spectators Chaunte Lowe of the USA, who won the women's high jump, said: "The crowd was amazing and very lively Imagine what they will be like in the Olympic Games " A familiar figure at the Olympic Stadium over the weekend was tireless hornplayer Dartagnan Jatobá, who has been almost ever-present at major sports events in Rio since 1982 Dartagnan and his fellow musical musketeers helped provide a noisy and energetic backdrop to the championship  Capacity at the stadium, which was built for the 2007 Pan-American Games, has been increased from 45,000 to 60,000 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games  Organisers distributed thousands of free tickets for the test event There was a carnival atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium during the test event (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)