Stadio dei Marmi

The Stadio dei Marmi ( Marble Stadium ) is a sports stadium at the Foro Italico (formerly Foro Mussolini ), part of a monumental sports complex consisting of the Olympic Stadium Rome, Palazzo delle Terme, Piazzale de l' Impero, Casa delle arms, tennis courts, the Mussolini obelisk, the sphere fountains and other structures and plants is.

The sports complex was being considered in the context of the debate on the new urban expansion plan already in the so-called variant generale ( 1925-26 ), a mainly edited by Marcello Piacentini variant plan for urban expansion plan in 1909. Responsible for the overall planning of the site and most of the first sports venues was Enrico Del Debbio, as well as for the resulting 1928-1932 Stadium.

The up to 20,000 guests, the Stadio dei Marmi was used as part of an Academy of Sport, which it used for athletic training his students. Later, it was initially used by the paramilitary, focused on physical training youth organization of the fascist regime, the Opera Nazionale Balilla. Today it is operated by the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano, founded on July 10, 1914 as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The stadium in oval shape is built high abgetreppt from eight levels of marble. Today, the upper end line 59 monumental marble statues that have been contributed from different Italian cities; originally there were 60 athletes are portrayed in a classic style, each athlete is supposed to represent a province of Italy. The standing on pedestals marble statues of Carrara marble are about 5.50 meters high.

On November 4, 1932 after the conclusion of the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the March on Rome, Benito Mussolini inaugurated the first group of buildings: the Palazzo dell'Accademia Fascista, Mussolini obelisk and the Stadio dei Marmi. With this stadium tried the fascists in Italy, to build on the ancient Roman architecture, the created stadiums with crowning marble statues. The marble statues of the Stadio dei Marmi symbolize in their form and content, the image of athletic master race.

In the Stadio dei Marmi, the Opening Ceremony of the World Swimming Championships 2009 took place.