Elon Musk is currently engaged in discussions with the Italian government regarding the potential hosting of his proposed physical confrontation with Mark Zuckerberg, although the Colosseum has been excluded as a viable venue, The Guardian reports.
Musk, the owner of X Corp, and Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, initially floated the idea of a one-on-one bout through social media posts in June. This challenge emerged as Zuckerberg was preparing to introduce Threads, a competing microblogging platform to Musk's rebranded Twitter.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano stated that conversations were underway about organizing the event while respecting the historical sites where it might take place, but clarified that Rome would not be the chosen location.
Sangiuliano conveyed, "I had a lengthy and friendly phone conversation with Elon Musk. We discussed our shared enthusiasm for ancient Roman history. We are exploring how to arrange a significant charity and historical reenactment event while upholding the integrity of the sites. However, it will not be hosted in Rome."
Recently, Dana White, the President of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a cage-fighting promotion company, revealed discussions with the culture ministry about organizing the billionaire showdown at the Colosseum.
Musk added to the intrigue by tweeting that the fight would be live-streamed on his and Zuckerberg's social media platforms, emphasizing that the surroundings would evoke ancient Rome. He mentioned conversations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the culture minister, asserting they had agreed on a grand location.
Nonetheless, Sangiuliano's statement ruled out Rome as a possible site. Italy boasts numerous ancient Roman and Greek sites, including the Capua amphitheater, Pompeii ruins, Greek temples in Agrigento, and Verona's AD30 arena, still in use today.
Musk clarified that the fight's management and proceeds would come from his and Zuckerberg's charitable contributions, not UFC, with all profits directed to veterans' organizations. Sangiuliano indicated that any deal would involve a substantial donation to two Italian pediatric hospitals.
The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC).
— gorklon rust (@elonmusk) August 11, 2023
Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.
I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.
Musk also indicated that the fight wouldn't take place soon due to a shoulder issue requiring minor surgery and several months of recovery. Zuckerberg expressed skepticism about the fight's likelihood, revealing that he had suggested an August 26 date for the bout, which seems improbable given Musk's surgery announcement.
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, questioned the seriousness of the situation, suggesting the fight's discussion might be humorous banter between the two billionaires. She humorously referred to the fight as a "great brand sponsorship opportunity."
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