Hundreds of people gathered in Verona to protest prior to the closing ceremony of the Olympics
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Verona just hours prior to the Olympics closing ceremony, voicing their opposition to rising housing costs and environmental issues associated with the Winter Games.
The rally, “Olympics?” “No Thanks” was organized by university groups and associations that are against hosting an event they believe disrupts forests, pours concrete onto fragile land, and exacerbates social inequality.
“We are here to protect our territory from speculation… and from the exorbitant costs of attending events,” stated Giannina Dal Bosco, a 76-year-old activist.
Tickets for the ceremony ranged in price from 950 euros ($1,120) to a maximum of 2,900 euros. The event commenced at 8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) within the historic Roman arena of Verona.
One banner stated, “Fewer games for the few, more homes for everyone.”
Traveling from Vicenza, approximately 60 km (40 miles) away, Francesca, 34, expressed that the new Olympic structures had “disfigured” the landscape.
“They constructed concrete eyesores such as the bobsleigh track, which will have no utility,” she remarked. “Funds from the public purse have been squandered that might have been allocated for hydrogeological safety and housing initiatives.”
Numerous demonstrators donned keffiyeh scarves and brandished Palestinian flags.
Demonstrators walked for approximately two hours beyond the security perimeter, from the historic Porta Palio of the 16th century to the 19th-century Arsenal Square.
They made a brief stop at the location nearest to the red zone, attempting to gain entry without success. Prior to the march continuing, activists emblazoned the phrase “FIVE CIRCLES, A THOUSAND DEBTS” in bold letters on the pavement.
Verona’s mayor, Damiano Tommasi, stated that prominent events like the Olympics often attract individuals looking for attention and attempting to take advantage of the occasion, emphasizing the necessity for increased security measures.
