Football helping to combat 'domestic violence'

Sport is doing its bit to help combat that seemingly never-ending plague of “domestic abuse”. Approximately 31% of women in the EU (around 50 million) have experienced physical or sexual violence in adulthood, with 18% experiencing partner violence. Data indicates 30% have suffered psychological violence from a partner, and about 4.3 women per million are killed by family or intimate partners annually. In Italy, as elsewhere, the problem is, sadly, as prevalent as ever with approximately 31.5% of women (around 6.4–6.8 million) aged 16–70 having experienced physical or sexual violence, with roughly 62.7% of rapes committed by current or ex-partners. Domestic violence, including psychological and economic abuse, is widespread, with high numbers of victims reporting injuries or fearing for their lives.

The figures are frightening: Nearly one in three women in the EU have experienced physical and/or sexual violence; 18% of women who have had a partner have experienced physical or sexual violence by them and 30% of women in the EU have experienced psychological violence by a partner. The sport of football in Italy may currently be in the doldrums with the national team having failed to reach this summer’s World Cup, its latest failure in a football-mad nation, but the sport is flying the flag when it comes to tackling do Its national stadium, the Stadio Olympico, is playing its part by displaying the 1-5-2-2 number, the anti-violence and stalking number promoted by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - Department for Equal Opportunities.

The number is clearly signalled in bright colours in seats in one of the Stadio Olympico stands, with one seat for the number 1, five seats for the 5 and so on. The "1522" number is Italy's national anti-violence and stalking hotline, promoted by AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico through their "Amami e Basta" (Just Love Me) campaign. The campaign emphasizes reporting domestic abuse. 1522 is free, anonymous, and available 24/7. The stadium also offers tours for groups or individuals which showcase the long and varied history of sport in Italy, including the Olympics – the stadium is named after the 1960 Olympics which it hosted, and, of course, top football games. The tours are hourly and last about 45 minutes. Visitors are shown the changing rooms, shared by Roma FC and Lazio, and other facilities.

A stadium tour guide said: “The 1522 number is clearly visible on the seats in the ground and is designed to help raise awareness of the issue and efforts to combat domestic abuse.”

The stadium itself is the largest sports facility in the country and was first opened in 1953. Construction began under architect Enrico Del Debbio for the Fascist regime. The project was part of a larger plan to create a vast sports complex. Completed and formally opened as the Stadio Olimpico in 1953, with a football match between Italy and Hungary. The stadium was remodeled and expanded to serve as the centerpiece for the 1960 Rome Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. It was almost entirely rebuilt and redesigned for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, adding a white tensile structure roof and increasing capacity.Further renovations, including for the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, brought the facility up to UEFA elite.

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