The controversial tweet by Ivan Ljubicic has put the spotlight back on the topic: the coverage of the Central Court of the Foro Italico. “Build the roof!” wrote the former Croatian tennis player, former coach of Roger Federer and today commentator for Sky.
That year last year
In reality, the idea is there, and apparently also a project. It is enough to go back to a year ago, precisely to 21 May 2023 when the then president and CEO of Sport and Health, Vito Cozzoli, certainly announced that “By 2026 the Foro Italico power station will have coverage”. Words spoken during the closing press conference of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
For a control unit that can be used 365 days a year
The manager also added other details: “The feasibility project for the expansion and coverage has been awarded. It is a futuristic project that will make the Centrale usable 365 days a year, as already happens with the Olympic Stadium. It will therefore become a multitasking, multidisciplinary facility, representing a space that can accommodate, in addition to tennis, many other sports: from volleyball, basketball to martial arts such as taekwondo, but also concerts and shows. So no more big matches suspended and postponed.”
33 competing ideas
Not only. Cozzoli proudly also underlined how the “guidelines of the landscape, architectural and monumental context of the Foro Italico Park had been taken into account. Of the socio-environmental impact that this project has. 33 competing ideas participated in the design competition, which had been stagnant for a long time and which Sport e Salute “revived”. Seven proposals reached the final selection. Now the administrative process will begin and the executive project will arrive within 6 months. Subsequently, we will proceed with the tender for the assignment of the contract which will last two years”.
But nothing has been done yet
Finally: “The works will not stop the Internationals in their natural home. We will continue to play here. No moving, no impediments. Because the company to which the contract will be assigned will have to undertake the commitment to interrupt the work during the tournament period, allowing it to proceed smoothly. To take them back at the end. We at Sport and Health are used to speaking with facts and not with words.” Well. What happened this year? Much, and nothing. In the sense that Vito Cozzoli has been replaced: today the president of Sport and Health is Marco Mezzaroma, while the CEO is Diego Nepi Molineris. On the Central coverage, the word goes to them.
