Rome brings curling to the Colosseum, without ice

In the shadow of the Colosseum, Rome's latest sporting attraction is an unlikely one: a curling rink. The New York Times reports that sports officials have set up the installation to capitalise on the fresh popularity of curling following the Winter Olympics, despite the city being in the grip of a summer heatwave and the rink having no ice.

The initiative is part of a broader push to bring winter sports to a wider Italian audience, a strategy that has gained traction since the Olympics. The rink, which uses a synthetic surface instead of ice, allows visitors to try the sport in the middle of a Roman summer, a stark contrast to the frozen venues where curling is usually played.

The location is deliberate. The Colosseum is Rome's most visited monument, drawing millions of tourists each year, and the rink is positioned to catch the attention of both international visitors and Romans themselves. The NYT report notes that the installation is a partnership between sports federations and local authorities, who see it as a way to promote the sport ahead of the next Winter Olympics.

The heat is a constant challenge. With temperatures in Rome regularly exceeding 35 degrees Celsius this August, the synthetic rink still requires careful maintenance to remain playable, and organisers have had to adjust opening hours to avoid the worst of the midday sun. The NYT quotes one official as saying that the novelty of the setting is part of the appeal, drawing curious passersby who would never otherwise encounter the sport.

The initiative also reflects a wider trend in Italian sports marketing, where federations are seeking new audiences beyond traditional venues. Rome, with its vast tourist flow and its status as the national capital, offers a unique platform for such experiments, even if the conditions are far from those of a conventional curling arena.

The rink is expected to remain in place through the end of the summer season, with organisers already planning events and demonstrations. Whether it will convert any of the Colosseum's visitors into curling enthusiasts remains to be seen, but the spectacle of the sport against the ancient backdrop has already drawn attention, the NYT reports.