Rome (AFP) – Winter Olympic sport curling has found itself an unusual setting, under the hot sun in front of the Colosseum in Rome.
Issued on: 25/08/2026 - 14:58
3 min Reading time
New aficionados have been converted to the ice sport in the incongruous southern setting of Rome.A temporary rink in the shadow of the Colosseum has won over new fans of curling, with locals and tourists alike taking part in the sport that gained traction during the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Italy's north."They're curious — as soon as they see the rink, they're immediately fascinated," said Serena Rota, 24, a curling tutor hired to introduce new players to the sport.Rome installed the temporary rink -- made of high-density plastic, not ice -- in June, bringing a sport more commonly associated with frozen lakes and icy northern landscapes to the Italian capital.The initiative was spearheaded by Sport e Salute, a public entity that develops and promotes sports projects across the country.On a recent afternoon at the Colle Oppio Park, which covers the ancient ruins of Roman emperor Nero's sprawling palace, players in trainers and shorts launched curling stones to slide across the bright white rink.Each throw began with a soft thud as the stone hits the rink, followed by the low scrape as it glided across the surface.Pietro Valli, 21, said he had been visiting friends in Rome when he headed to the park to play basketball. He came across the curling rink and decided to give it a try.'Not that simple'
