Italy/stadiums: "Sport Decree" due to be adopted in May 2025 "will save time" (A. Abodi)

The government of Giorgia Meloni (far right) is due to adopt the "Sport Decree" in May 2025, which will simplify the procedures for building new stadiums, according to Andrea Abodi, Italian Minister for Sport and Youth, who spoke on RAI's public radio channel, Radio 1, on 17/04/2025.

This text supported by Andrea Abodi is intended to eliminate "regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles". "It will save time," said the minister.

The new provisions will allow the appointment of a "commissioner" and the designation of the mayors concerned or their delegates as "sub-commissioners" in order to unblock situations that were previously inextricable. This could lead to the immediate release of €4.5-5bn and, ultimately, investment of up to €10bn.

"The aim is to meet a requirement for 2032 (the organisation of Euro 2032 was entrusted to the Italy-Turkey duo by UEFA on 10/10/2023), which has been brought forward to 2026 for the definition of the five Italian stadiums. UEFA has imposed a deadline of April-May 2027 for the opening of the various construction sites, failing which the award of the…