(ANSA) - Sanremo, February 8 - Security was tight in Sanremo
on Monday, the day before the opening of the 66th edition of the
televised song festival at the Ariston theatre in the Ligurian
coastal town on Tuesday.
Local police commissioner Leopoldo Laricchia said controls
had been stepped up "in line with the terrorism alert across
Europe", with the deployment of explosive detection dogs, police
agents carrying metal detectors and anti-terrorism squads and
the introduction of a no-fly zone.
Meanwhile there was growing anticipation over the scheduled
appearance of British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John on
Tuesday evening.
The participation of the gay rights activist and icon who
has two children with his spouse David Furnish comes amid heated
debate in Italy over a bill introducing civil unions for
same-sex couples that is currently before the Senate, and which
includes provisions for stepchild adoption, or the adoption by
one partner in a civil union of the other partner's biological
child.
Sanremo presenter and artistic director Carlo Conti played
down his presence, saying he had been invited as a "musical
guest" in September 2015, before the controversy over the civil
unions bill broke out.
All eyes will also be on co-presenter Gabriel Garko on
Tuesday, after the Italian television actor suffered mild
injuries in an explosion at a Sanremo villa last week that left
one elderly woman dead.
On Thursday doctors said Garko was fit enough to
participate in the five-day prime time television bonanza.
However, Conti said Sunday that the actor and sex symbol
was "notably shaken" by what had happened but that he was
"keeping (it) inside".
Meanwhile it emerged that Belgian DJ and music producer
Lost Frequencies would be among the festival guests, along with
Nicole Kidman, Ellie Goulding, Maitre Gims, Hozier, J Balvin,
Roberto Bolle, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, i Pooh, Elisa and
Renato Zero.
Security tight in Sanremo
Eyes on Tuesday appearance by gay rights activist Sir Elton John