Presented in Milan the calendar of inclusive sports events promoted by the Sport for Inclusion Network of member foundations, throughout Italy from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3
Presented today at the Allianz Cloud in Milan is the first edition of Sport For Inclusion Week, an initiative promoted by the Sport for Inclusion Network to raise awareness of the many inclusive sports activities in Italy that are carried out or supported by the Network’s member foundations.
Sport for Inclusion Network is the first thematic network among foundations in Italy, which with its 25 members brings together the most interesting practices of inclusive sports to combat fragility and promote public health; foundations that in 2022 promoted or implemented more than 300 initiatives targeting more than 175,000 direct or indirect beneficiaries.
For 8 days, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, all along the peninsula, inclusive sports projects will open their doors to tell about a declination of sport with high social impact, which intervenes to reduce inequalities, working with the most fragile people even in the most difficult territories.
“We have chosen to open to citizens some of the activities involving the foundations in our network,” said Rocco Giorgianni, president of Sport for Inclusion Network, “to show how much inclusive power sports can have and because we want the culture of sports as a key to social well-being to be increasingly a community asset.
The entry of sport into the Constitution, having recognized its educational, social value and promotion of psychophysical well-being,” the organizers go on to explain, “has given even more strength and value to the activities that hundreds of organizations carry out throughout Italy and that, thanks to Sport for Inclusion Week, will be fully accessible. It is of paramount importance that the plateau of inclusive sports is extended and spread throughout the country to ensure, even for those with frailty, the possibility of choosing their preferred sporting activity.
Maurizio Devescovi, General Manager of Allianz S.p.A. and President of Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation said, “It is a pleasure for us to have organized this day and hosted it at the Allianz Cloud to present Sport for Inclusion Week, a week throughout Italy dedicated to inclusive sports. With this day, Fondazione Allianz UMANA MENTE wants to once again emphasize the importance of sport in the social projects we support and reiterate its role as a tool for inclusion and social cohesion. In this way we cultivate in our projects the typical values of sport, such as teamwork, the achievement of increasingly challenging goals, preparation, continuous improvement and respect for others by overcoming any kind of discrimination.”
The press conference was attended by many civic and sports institutions, including Undersecretary with responsibility for Sport and Youth of the Lombardy Region Lara Magoni, Claudia Giordani Vice President CONI, Giuseppe Pagani of the Institute for Sports Credit, but above all many leaders of the sports world, including Paralympics, who work to ensure that competitiveness and inclusion walk as one road. Among them Lucio Fusaro, President of Allianz Powervolley. Also speaking were: Marco Riva President CONI Lombardy, Martina Riva Assessore Sport Comune Milano, Lorenzo Lamperti General Manager Milano Sport, Silvia Epis Technical Director National Youth Sector – Italian Cycling Federation, Luca Masini General Manager DUFERCO ENERGIA SPA, Alfredo Trentalange Head of AIA – FIGC Commission for the study development and monitoring of association projects and for the fight against violence, Piero Cezza President of the FIPAV Lombardy Regional Committee, Fabio Triboli Paralympic Athlete, Roberto Fossati and Valerio Savino AS Rugby Milano, Laura Giuliani Milan – women’s first team goalkeeper, Mauro Berardi Wheelchair Ski Master – enjoy ke sport, Paolo Tavian Winter Sports – President of the Italian Paralympic Sports Federation, Marco Fichera President of the Organizing Committee of the World Fencing Championships Assoluti “Milano2023”.
The value of Italian foundations’ support for Inclusive Sport projects in the words of Carlo Mazzola, president of Fondazione Mazzola – among the promoters of the Network – which has been supporting inclusive sport, especially in the field of disabilities, since its establishment. It is essential that Italian philanthropy continues to support inclusive sport because thanks to projects that “field” sport beyond all barriers we are able to truly affect the quality of people’s lives by focusing on potential and not limitations. In addition, the numbers say that every euro dedicated to sports generates savings in health care spending of between 3 and 5 euros per person in the long run; as a Foundation we have no financial interests but this evidence pushes us even more to engage in an area not much “frequented” by philanthropy. We believe it is particularly important to focus on the provision of inclusive sports, particularly on the availability of usable and welcoming spaces: we always talk about inclusion but reality tells us that people are very often excluded from sports venues. The data suggest the urgency of taking action to respond to a need, both individual and collective, and to give voice to a right, particularly in this historical moment that has seen the recognition of sport in the Italian Constitution.”
Many inclusive sports experiences were featured in the background of the conference: E-sports, Para-taekwondo, Para-climbing, Para-cycling, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Rugby, Inclusive Running, and more. At the Allianz Cloud a small preview of the more than 40 events of Sport for Inclusion Week. The initiative has received support from Duferco Energia, Montura and Allianz Power Volley Milano, Allianz S.p.A., CSI Centro Sportivo Italiano.
Full calendar (also available at www.sportforinclusion.org) attached for info write to info@sportforilclusio.org
