Rome’s Stadio Olimpico is to offer stadium tours with fans able to access all areas of the famous venue.
The tours, which are available in Italian and English, launch this week thanks to a collaboration between AS Roma, SS Lazio and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Stadio Olimpico will open its doors to allow fans to browse its corridors, visiting everything from the changing rooms to the trophy hall and the Walk of Legends that celebrates some of the greats – such as Francesco Totti, Usain Bolt and Pink Floyd – to have graced the venue.
The new opening was officially inaugurated as representatives from Roma, Lazio and the FIGC embarked on the first version of the tour. They were guided through the stadium and its past – including the 1960 Olympic Games, the Athletics World Championships in 1974 and 1987 and the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Stadio Olimpico first opened in 1937 and was known as Stadio dei Cipressi and then Stadio dei Centomila before changing its name for the 1960 Olympic Games. It has been the home of Roma and Lazio since 1953.
FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina said: “It allows the world of football and sport to open up to the needs of our fans and sports enthusiasts. The world of football has grown in a molecular way, but growth it was not hand in hand with the needs of our fans.”
Meanwhile, Italian authorities say there are no current plans to allow full capacities to return to Serie A.
Open-air arenas are only allowed to open at 75% capacity at the moment, and those who do enter the stadium must have an EU Green Pass.
“We have no plans to open up stadiums to 100 per cent capacity,” Roberto Speranza, Minister for Health, told Che Tempo Che Fa on RAI 3.
“My strong recommendation, especially during this period where the virus is growing again, is to use a mask as much as possible, because it really is an essential tool to reduce the possibility of contagion.
“The situation for the next few weeks will be insidious.”
Images: AS Roma
