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Patchy Italy disability access 'an insult' ahead of Games
Italy invested €55 million to improve Milan's accessibility for the 2026 Paralympics, but Rome faces persistent barriers and fragmented road maintenance across 15 boroughs.
- In the run-up to the Milan-Cortina Games this year, Paralympic organisers and Italy's government invested 55 million euros to upgrade Milan metro stations while some stations near the Spanish Steps in Rome remain inaccessible.
- Fragmented responsibility has left 15 boroughs sharing road duties, causing major maintenance disparities and some redevelopments, like Piazza Pia near St Peter's Basilica, lacking ramps for wheelchair users ahead of the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee.
- On the ground, a ramp at crossings in Prati allows one-way access only, Sanpietrini cobbles trap wheelchairs, and stairlifts make one-stop journeys last up to 40 minutes in Rome metro's 77 stations.
- As a result, the council's fleet of specially adapted taxis grew from 40 five years ago to 250 today, providing 24,400 trips in February this year.
- Bardini argues that authorities lack willpower to fix access, and he doubts the Paralympics will lead to long-term accessibility improvements despite showcasing disabled people’s abilities.
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28 Articles
28 Articles
ABC FOX Montana+25 Reposted by 25 other sources
Patchy Italy disability access 'an insult' ahead of Games
Italy hosts the world's top paralympic athletes this month, but just getting across the street in Rome can feel like an Olympian task for wheelchair users.
·Missoula, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources28
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
L 28%
C 55%
R 17%
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