The Internazionali BNL d’Italia is an annual tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy, the Masters Series event at the Foro Italico. Aside from the Grand Slams, this is the highest-ranking tennis competition in the world, attracting the best male and female tennis players. The men’s competition is one of the 9 phases of the ATP Masters1000 circuit, while the women’s is one of the main WTA circuit competitions. The two competitions are currently held in separate weeks in May. The tournament is played on clay courts.

The event was previously known as the Italian Open and changed to its current name in 2002. The Italian tennis championship was first held in 1930 in Milan, where it was held until 1934 before being moved to the Foro Italico in Rome in 1935. Now is the highest profile tennis event in Italy; every year tennis enthusiasts from all over the round flock to the Eternal City to assist to the tournament.

In 2007, the Italian bank BNL becomes the “title sponsor” of the tournament. BNL has always developed strong relationships with Italian sport and its main associations: it has been the bank partner of the CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee) for 70 years.

The spectacular Foro Italico was constructed between 1928 and 1938 and is located on the bank of the River Tevere. It hosts numerous sports venues including the Stadio Olimpico, which hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Mussolini built the sports centre to encourage young Italians to keep both bodies and mind fit. As such, the track and the tennis court were embellished with colossal marble sculptures of athletes who preside over all athletic efforts whilst showing off their fine physiques.

The event is more than just tennis – it is a total entertainment experience. High fashion, fine food, fabulous shopping and celebrity musical performances have made it one of the most glamorous stops on the ATP World Tour. To enjoy all of it don’t hesitate to make a reservation at Yes Hotel or Hotel Des Artistes!

Tickets for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia go on sale on the Italian Tennis Federation website.

For the concert of Madonna in Rome in September , well,  Rome tickets ran out fast like sweet marmelade and prices ranged 100 up to 2.500 euros for just one ticket.

Fans can still look for bargains on the net where tons of advertisements are offering tickets for the sold out dates but at a more expensive rate even.

The tour is produced by Live Nation. The Signora Ciccone indeed  recently dumped major record label Warner Bros in order to sign a new recording and business deal with Live Nation and is supporting her eleventh studio album "Hard Candy" who came out on April and debuted at number 1 around the world, so she is not taking chances !

Concerts will take place in arenas and stadiums, including a number of cities where Madonna has not performed in the past fifteen years. Madonna’s long time partner in business Jamie King will direct "STICKY & SWEET" and the musical director will be Kevin Antunes.

On August 16th Madonna is turning to 50 but she doesn’t seem to feel too old to stop shocking and stunning the legions of devoted fans around the world, isn’t she?

Rome – September 6th, 2008

Venue:  Rome Olympic Stadium

Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 9:00 pm

Viale dello Stadio Olimpico 1

How to get to the Stadium: From Termini station take the red line (METRO A), final destination BATTISTINI and get out to FLAMINIO. Take the tram 2 and get out to last stop PIAZZA MANCINI.

So if you need a Rome hotel, plan in advance or just look for a good lastminute hotel deal , look up for our Yes Hotel Offers !

Like every year, from 1980 Rome lights with the big stars of Rome  Athletics Golden Gala. A unique opportunity to see at the strongest athletes in the world, this year specially facing the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

 
Among the guests expected, confirmed the presence of Andrew Howe, the young Italian talent (but parents of African-Americans) that points on strong long jump and was able to win the international fame thanks to his performance but also with its exuberant sympathy and enthusiasm.

But the most awaited international visitor in Rome  is certainly Yelena Isinbayeva, the queen of pole vault for

women, able to retrace the footsteps of the great Sergei Bubka, between a world record to another.

Recall also that the Rome  Golden Gala is the third point of the prestigious Golden League, the series of meetings that connects won one million dollars for those who are capable of winning in his specialty in all six appointments.

Place
At Stadio Olimpico
Address

Via dei gladiatori, 2 Rome
City

Rome
Date
July 11, 2008 from 19:45
Tickets: 06.20.38.29.34 (which can also be used to receive information on the type of sectors, prices, promotions and outlets where you can buy tickets). If you call from outside Italy dial 0039 before the number.

How to get to the Olimpic Stadium in Rome : if you decide to stay in a central Rome Hotel such as Yes Hotel Rome, you can get metro line A and get off at Ottaviano (direction Battistini), then bus 32 and get off at Largo T Cadorna Ostello della Gioventù, then walk for about one kilometer.

Coppa Italia : Lazio – Inter

On Saturday, May 24th 2008, a single-match final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome between Inter and Roma. These two teams will compete for the Coppa Italia (Italy Cup), an Italian football  yearly cup competition.

The first edition was held in 1922; the 2007-28 Coppa Italia is the 60^th edition of the tournament.

The teams which win the trophy wear a “tricolore” cockade and obtain a Uefa Cup spot for the next season.

The teams which have obtained more victories in this tournament are FC Juventus with nine wins, and AS Roma with eight wins. The clubs that will win the competition 10 times will be awarded a silver star (Juventus lies close with 9 wins).

In Italy, however, the Coppa Italia tournament is considered of minor importance by most teams which don’t field their best line-up, except for the final and semi-final matches; that’s the reason for which large crowds attend only the final game.

The final on May 24^th will be played, like the three previous editions, between Inter Milan and AS Roma. Last year AS Roma beat Inter (6-2 in Rome, 1-2 in Milan), and they became cup winners for the eighth time.

Last year it was decided to make some changes regarding the format of the 2007-08 tournament; for example, the number of the competitors was reduced to 42 teams (only the teams which play in Serie A and Serie B, therefore no Serie C-teams); one more example is the elimination of the two-leg final, being replaced by a single-match final at neutral venue.

If you happen to be in Rome at the end of May, do not miss this great  sport event  . Book your hotel stay in Rome, our Yes Hotel has great discounts, and head straight away to the Olympic stadium.

You want more information on the Coppa Italia ? Read here another Coppa Italia Blog.

If you want to read more about sports events in Rome , see here !

Writer : Giuseppe

Rugby in Rome, Stadio Flaminio

The greatest sport passion in Italy is the football (say calcio in italian and you are likely to strike up an animated conversation), however of lately  the rugby has become more and more popular with each passing year and tournament, and as a proof was the entry of Italy as the 6^th nation in the famous tournament which used to be the RBS 5 nations !

The Italian Rugby Federation was created in 1928.

Six Nations Tournament is a competition which was created in 1883 in unofficial way and at first took part in the contest the four national teams of British islands: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales; later on, in 1910,France was added and more recently in 2000 Italy joined too.

It is played during winter months. Each team plays just one match against the other teams without return match. So each team plays five matches, with the advantage to play at home another match that changes every year.
The win is worth 2 points, the draw one point and the defeat 0 points. The matches played in Rome are played into the Flaminio Stadium which smaller than other rugby stadium but offering a better view and placed in a very served and organized area (hotel, restoration services, etc).

Some really high level teams and important 6 Nations international matches are happening in Rome and many rugby fans are coming from all over Europe to enjoy the spectacular game. For a few weekends Rome is getting packed with Scots in kilts or with English sporting rugby shirts.

Italy play their Six Nations matches at the venue Stadio Flaminio, which is also used for football matches, close to the the larger Stadio Olimpico.

The Flaminio stadium is easily reached from Yes Hotel Rome.

From Termini station, where you will find most of Rome Transportation : Take Metro Line A and get off Flaminio . It is best to go on foot from there, count a good 15 minute walk, in order to avoid heavy traffic. Else from Piazzale Flaminio  take bus number 2 which heads to Via Flaminia, and get off at the Flaminio Stadium : its distinctive curving sides are visible on the right. 

Along the way you some bars near the stadium set up temporarily and from where the visitors can get their drinks. Although public drinking is not exactly appreciated in Italy polite visiting rugby fans are regarded with an interest, and especially the kilted Scots !

In 2007 Italy did very well by beating Wales, although they surrendered eventually to France. See here for 2006 and 2007 Rugby in Rome.

This year 2008 , next encounter will be on Saturday, March 15, 2008 and Italy (Azzuri) will play against Scotland  in a rugby union game which is going to be held at Stadio Flaminio ,Rome an it is part of the 6 Nations 2008.

Another game is South Africa vs Italy on June 16, 2008 and held in CapeTown.

Italy Vs England, 10th february 2008