FEI World Championships: Castelli Romani Between Regenerative Opportunities and Territorial Challenges

Sporting events play a recognized role in shaping tourist destinations; furthermore, they support the territory in thematic specialization enhancing the value of host regions through image and infrastructure improvements. While recognizing these events as catalysts for regeneration and local redevelopment both in urban and rural areas, this study emphasizes on awareness of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems in the host territories. Focusing on the recent FEI World Championships, the discussion is aimed to compare narratives presented by institutional stakeholders with those of associations involved in local conflicts, exploring potential consequences for the host territory. The paper also considers the impact of outdoor sporting events on the territorial ecosystem, addressing the complex relationship between sporting activities and biodiversity conservation and emphasizing the need to prioritize biological diversity in planning outdoor sporting events in natural areas.