When it’s hot in Rome, no better place to go than to a pool. Except this pool YOU can’t swim in! This year the FINA World Aquatics Championships are being held in Rome… Until August 2nd, you have a great opportunity to go see some incredible athletes, including Michael Phelps and the local favorite, Federica Pellegrini (who just set another world record!). The swimming venue is adjacent to the Olympic Stadium… Ironically, the “modern obelisk” bearing Mussolini’s name still stands outside the stadium.
Tickets are selling quickly for the evening affairs. We had the opportunity to see the Synchronized Swimming Finals and also some preliminary swimming heats. With the “upcoming” revisions to the swim suits being proposed by FINA, the world records being set here may last for a LONG time….
If you go, bring water! We carried our own “ice chest” in with water, ice, drinks, and an Italian picnic lunch. My wife complained I was planning on moving in – No, I just wanted to be prepared. DO be prepared for the HOT sun. These are open-air stadiums so it is hot. Fortunately, we had seats under the umbrella pine trees that surround the facility.
You can ride the Metro Line A to the Ottaviano stop and then connect on the 32 and 271 buses to the Stadium stop (this is probably the easiest way for most folks)… Look for the pools on your LEFT – pictures below will detail that – and then jump off the bus. Or you can ride the #2 Tram from in front of the Metro Line A Flaminio to Piazza Mancini (major bus stop) and then walk across the bridge or perhaps catch the 280 bus…
In the Google Map above, the Red Circle denotes the location of the FINA World Championships. The Blue Box is Piazza Mancini…and the black dots in front of the pool competition area are the bus stops for the 280, 271, and 32. Here are a couple views from the street if you’re coming in on the buses.
Pictured below are the arrival gates… they did a very good job of dressing up the area. For those of you who come to the Italian Open Tennis tournament it’s in the same spot!
You can walk into the “park” area without a ticket. You only need a ticket to go into the competition venues. This open-air “market” has many sponsors selling and giving away items. The most popular booth? The one selling the official FINA T-shirts and memorabilia.
There’s also a kids area. Here you’ll see Nickelodeon with huge displays. Also, there are Play Station 2 areas. There is even an Internet Point inside the market area. Okay – I’ll probably get divorced for putting this picture on my blog… but our kids loved Sponge Bob when they were younger (now in their twenties) and so for them, here’s my wife doing her impression in the kids’ area!
Okay – when she reads this post, my short writing career will be over!
Our first event was the Ladies Team Synchronized Swimming. It was the first time we had seen this event “live” and it was incredible. How do they hold their breath so long? And all stay so “together?” Amazing!
Warming up for the FINALS…
The Italia Team – a crowd favorite. They had a “well-supported” routine with lots of cheering and shouting. These are the introductions at the beginning of the event when ALL the teams come out one-by-one. Biggest cheer was for these ladies – hands down!
Russia won the event, followed by an incredible performance by the Spanish Ladies (I thought they should have won!). China finished third. Italy was sixth and the USA finished in 7th place at the event we attended.
We came back a few days later for the swimming heats… mainly because all the evening tickets were $85-120… too rich for our blood. So we scheduled our dip into the swimming events so we could see Phelps and Pellegrini. We were not disappointed as both did quite well in their heats.
It was quite hot and mostly attended by friends and family. Everyone was coming back for the FINALS scheduled in other events that evening. Fan support in Europe is quite unique and we saw many celebrations. The folks from Montenegro had not won an event yet but there were by far having the best time when we were there!!!
When Michael Phelps came out (stepping onto Lane 4 starting blocks above) he was all business. We knew it was him before he got close to the pool as a TV camera was three feet from him his entire walk out… Then when he got out of the pool (after winning his heat) they were two feet away… The price of fame.
Above, the big screen shows the results and Phelps entering the pool.
After the events, the swimmers would walk under a canopy and by these folks – the press. Some stopped – most did not.
Only a few days left in the championships… If you’re in town, head over and enjoy the atmosphere. As you can see, the dress code here at this event is pretty liberal. Come and enjoy the sun, the European experience, and the competition!
Entertaining and factual videos on Rome, its history and monuments. Click on any video to purchase today or head to our Amazon.com Travel Store for more travel items for your upcoming European trip.
Entertaining and factual videos on Rome, its history and monuments. Click on any video to purchase today or head to our Amazon.com Travel Store for more travel items for your upcoming European trip.
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