The closure of the Orange Futbolclub, located in the Olympic Village, marked the beginning of a new phase marked by legality and sporting renewal. The structure, known for its soccer and five-a-side football fields, also frequented by VIPs and home to courses for children, was at the center of a controversy that had dragged on for years.
The decisive intervention was carried out by the traffic police of GUrban Social Security group on behalf of the Municipality of Rome, who regained possession of the complex, at the end of a long dispute against the failure to pay the concessions by the various companies that took over the management of the plant.
The stages
For years, the Orange Futbolclub has been a point of reference for many football fans in the capital. The facility not only hosted games between friends and local tournaments, but was also a vital center for youth sports education. With not a few shadows.
The old concessionaires accumulated debts and building violations without worrying about the legal and financial consequences. In particular, over 4 million euros of mortgage had not been paid, a burden that ultimately fell on the Municipality of Rome and, therefore, on Roman taxpayers. Furthermore, building regulations had been systematically ignored.
The intervention of the Municipality and the closure
On April 30, 2024, Roma Capitale decided to intervene. The traffic police of the Urban Social Security Group carried out the clearance, returning the complex to the Municipality. The councilor for Sport, Tourism, Major Events and Fashion of Rome Capital, Alessandro Onorato, declared: «The sports center in via degli Olimpionici was taken over after the old concessionaires, for years, enriched themselves at the expense of Roman taxpayers ».
Onorato described the situation found at the time of the intervention: «Between mystifications, pressures and threats, when we entered we found a disastrous situation: building violations, waste abandoned in an open-air landfill behind the football fields, no safety certification».
The new name: Olympic Village
Despite the difficulties, the Municipality of Rome worked to restore the structure and guarantee the continuity of services. Today, the former Orange Futbolclub has reopened its doors to the city under the new name of Olympic Village. Temporary management was entrusted to Zetema, a 100% in-house company of the Municipality, which resumed the activities of the football school for boys and girls. «The football school is back in session regularly, summer camps will be held and anyone who wants will be able to rent the fields. The tariffs will be municipal and therefore lower than market prices” explained Onorato. This change not only ensures the accessibility of sports facilities, but also promotes a more ethical and responsible use of public resources.
The reopening of the Olympic Village was celebrated as a real party. Onorato underlined the importance of this milestone: “Today is a celebration for Rome and for sport: legality always wins.”
The restoration work is still long and complex. «Our first objective was to ensure continuity in the authorized spaces and we succeeded, even if it was not easy» said Onorato. «For too many years, past administrations have closed their eyes to this plant, but we have opened them. And we will take back all the illegal municipal sports facilities, with abuses and with the debts made to pay by Roman citizens.”
Pending the assignment of the new concession through a public notice, Zetema will continue to temporarily manage the facility. The objective is to ensure that the Olympic Village can become an example of transparent and efficient management of municipal sports facilities.
