The Frecciarossa Italian Cup final focuses on sustainability
Image by Roma Servizi per la Mobilità
WIth the help of CIVITAS project UPPER and Living Lab Rome, the Frecciarossa Italian Cup Final on 15 May 2024, where Atalanta and Juventus competed for the title at Olympic Stadium, marked the first time that a football event in Italy was organised with a focus on sustainability. As a result of this sustainability focus, the environmental impact of the football event was significantly reduced. Lega Serie A, Sport e Salute, and Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, all aware of the significant social and environmental impact of sports and the importance of adopting and promoting sustainable practices, announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding connected to the implementation of Serie A's “Road to Zero" project.
UPPER aims to strengthen the role of public transport as the cornerstone of sustainable and innovative mobility. The project will implement a combination of measures to encourage people to move away from private car use and, instead, towards public transport. Replacing private car trips with trips made by public transport and active mobility can help alleviate congestion, reduce the environmental impact of transportation, and enhance overall transportation efficiency. It is easy to see how the travel of spectators to sports events can be a nuissance to others who are trying to enjoy a peaceful weekend walk; how disruptive it is to neighbourhoods; and how it, unnecessarily, increases stress, traffic, and pollution. Lifting the pressure that sports games place on cities is both possible and mandatory.
Eugenio Patanè, the Councilor for Mobility of Rome Capital, stated that in addition to being a unique event and show for the city, the Frecciarossa Italian Cup final acts as a great supporter of sustainable mobility and the ecological transition. The objective of the 'Road to Zero' initiative is to allow spectators to reach the stadium in a sustainable way. For this reason, a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging public transport use were implemented, including the provision of free public transport day passes for fans with tickets to the football game, extension of the timetable of all subways until 1:30 am, and increase in public transport lines towards Olympic stadium as well as shuttles dedicated to the transport of people with disabilities.
The president and CEO of Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, Anna Donati, confirmed that the Frecciarossa Italian Cup marked the first stage of the Road to Zero project.
For more info check out the Rome Mobility website.
Author: Francesco Iacorossi
