Plans to offer Airbnb customers the chance to take part in gladiator-style battles in Rome’s Colosseum have been decried as an insult to the UNESCO-listed ancient arena.

The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb.

In a partnership aimed at promoting what it describes as 'conscious tourism,' Airbnb has signed a $1.5 million deal with Rome's Colosseum to sponsor a series of staged gladiator fights.