Flood of problems for Rome organizers

ROME (Reuters) - Turning tennis courts into swimming pools is the least of Rome's worries ahead of the World Aquatics Championships next month.

Many facilities are not ready, prosecutors have been probing alleged irregularities at a related project and the organizing committee president threatened to quit after a row with the swimming federation.

"There's no use denying that we've had problems," Domenico Fioravanti, Italy's double breaststroke gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics and a championship sponsor, told Reuters.

"But adversity can create positive things. It's hard for something to improve if everything runs smoothly from the start."

Trouble began in May when Italian Swimming Federation President Paolo Barelli, a senator with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's party, asked Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno to sack organizing committee head Giovanni Malago.

When the request was rejected by fellow party member Alemanno, Barelli set his sights on having the powers of organizing committee director general Roberto Diacetti transferred to an official nominated by the federation.

A compromise was thrashed out at a board meeting last week, when it was decided that an administrator would be brought in to work alongside Diacetti.

The rift came after months of reports of delays, accompanied by images of structures clearly far from completion with the championships due to start on July 17 and finish on August 2.

Diacetti said this was not an issue at the main competition venue, the Foro Italico complex that includes the Stadio Olimpico soccer ground, as much of the work had not been scheduled to start until June.

This was partly because the installation of temporary pools in two of the complex's claycourt tennis stadiums, one of which is in the process of being rebuilt, had to wait until the end of the Rome Masters and Italian Open tournaments in May.

CRIMINAL PROBE

The preparation of other structures could not start until the Stadio Olimpico had hosted football's Champions League final later that month.

"From an aesthetic viewpoint, things cannot be ready yet," Diacetti told a news conference. "But the championships will take place at a shining Foro Italico that will present a beautiful spectacle of Rome."

While a last-minute flurry was planned for the Foro Italico, organizers are behind schedule with some complexes due to be used for training, including one on the coast at Ostia, where the open-water races will be staged.

"We are slogging away. Some of the worksite chiefs are having crying fits but we'll get there," said Claudio Rinaldi, the government commissioner in charge of approving facilities.

"The national delegations will start arriving on July 1. Everything will be ready before then."

There has also been a criminal probe into allegations that environmental and planning regulations were breached in a private project linked to the championships.

"I have always respected my prerogatives and acted in total transparency," Rinaldi said after questioning by prosecutors.

Rome 2009 is not new to controversy.

Hopes of holding some events at Tor Vergata University's planned 'City of Sport' were dashed when work was halted by Alemanno's executive because of soaring costs.

Newspaper La Repubblica reported that 190 million euros of public money had been spent on Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava's project, which was commissioned by the previous center-left city administration and now has an uncertain future.

NAVAL BATTLES

This prompted organizers to imitate the ancient Romans, who historians say used to flood the Colosseum for mock naval battles.

The Foro Italico's capacity will be boosted by turning tennis courts into pools for water polo and synchronized swimming.

The advantage is that fans and athletes will now have almost everything concentrated at a venue near the city center.

The complex opened in 1938 during Benito Mussolini's regime and maintains features from the period, including an obelisk devoted to the dictator and mosaics with fascist slogans.

It underwent a makeover before hosting the 1960 Olympics and it will hold the world aquatics championships for the second time after the 1994 edition.

The Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, the last sporting event of this scale in Italy, were also hit by problems in the run-up, including cash shortages, building delays and political rows.

Alessia Filippi, the 800 meters freestyle silver medalist in Beijing, is confident Rome can overcome any difficulties.

"I'm sure the world championships will be held at an unforgettable setting," the 21-year-old told reporters.

"I've seen the swimming stadium and it will be marvelous when it's finished."

(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)