ITALY: ROME'S TOURIST GLADIATORS DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE THE COLOSSEUM AGAINST THE DECISION TO BOOT THEM OUT
Record ID:
858731
ITALY: ROME'S TOURIST GLADIATORS DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE THE COLOSSEUM AGAINST THE DECISION TO BOOT THEM OUT
- Title: ITALY: ROME'S TOURIST GLADIATORS DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE THE COLOSSEUM AGAINST THE DECISION TO BOOT THEM OUT
- Date: 31st March 2003
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (MARCH 31, 2003) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COLOSSEUM WITH GLADIATORS STANDING OUTSIDE COLOSSEUM YELLING 'WE WANT WORK RIGHTS' BANNER SAYING 'AFTER 2,000 YEARS, ROME RE-LIVES THE REVOLT OF THE GLADIATORS' VARIOUS OF GLADIATORS PROTESTING WITH WHITE BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GLADIATOR, FRANCO MAGNI, SAYING "They promised us licenses and permits in order to continue working here at the Colosseum. Instead, we have been booted out." VIEW OF GLADIATORS PROTESTING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GLADIATOR, FRANCO MAGNI, SAYING "We don't know why we have been booted out because they (city) said we damage the image of the Colosseum." VARIOUS OF TOURISTS TAKING THEIR PHOTOS WITH GLADIATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRISH TOURIST PAUL KENNY SAYING: (QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THEY ADD FUN AND VALUE TO VISIT) "Well, we just took our picture with them, so we like them. So, yes they do. I don't think the Colosseum is a fun visit per se and so they add a little bit of humour and fun to it." VARIOUS OF GLADIATORS PROTESTING OUTSIDE COLOSSEUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLISH TOURIST, LYN PATON SAYING: "I think provided they stay outside, its fine. but I think if they were hassling people inside, it would be different. But, I think they should leave them here." VARIOUS TOURISTS TAKING THEIR PHOTOS WITH GLADIATORS TOURISTS HOLDING SIGN RIGHT TO WORK WHILE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED WITH GLADIATORS
- Embargoed: 15th April 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Travel / Tourism
- Reuters ID: LVADYGNWBYR1LK8KQROZ7HNHK83H
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Rome's tourist gladiators have demonstrated outside the Colosseum against the city's decision to boot them out.
Rome's gladiators demonstrated outside the Colosseum on Monday (March 31, 2003).
City fathers fear the unregulated gladiators are giving the whole country a bad name. The gladiators blew whistles and demanded the right to work outside the Colosseum.
"They promised us licenses and permits in order to continue working here at the Colosseum. Instead, we have been booted out," said gladiator Franco Magni.
"We don't know why we have been booted out because they (city) said we damage the image of the Colosseum," he said.
The twenty-first century gladiators hang around outside the Colosseum and pose for tourists who wish to be photographed with them. Although a number of tourists have complained about exorbitant prices and shabby uniforms, some also believe they are a fun addition to a visit to the ancient Roman monument.
"We just took our picture with them so we like them," said Irish tourist Paul Kenny. "I don't think the Colosseum is a fun visit per se and so they add a little bit of humour and fun to it."
"I think provided they stay outside, it's fine," said English tourist Lyn Paton, "but I think if they were hassling people inside, it would be different."
The Colosseum is Italy's most visited archaeological site, attracting almost three million tourists a year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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