We salute the third edition of “Salute è Benessere”, organized by the newspaper “La Sicilia” which has become an unmissable event in the sports/cultural program of Catania. In the scenario of Piazza Università, the children of the schools gather under a single flag, that of sport and in the name of physical well-being. This year too, CONI becomes an active part of the organisation, finding wonderful synergy not only with the newspaper “La Sicilia”, but also with other sports partners and above all with the Municipality which is carrying out an innovative and futuristic operation in Catania regarding in addition to the renovation of the systems, there is also the creation of sports squares.
Collaboration with the newspaper that continues to invest in sport, and a municipal administration that intends to capitalize on all the work for the reconstruction of the squares both in central and peripheral areas also in favor of effective social inclusion, “Sport and Health” which intends to increase the promotion and practice of sports even in open spaces such as squares and parks, the CONI with its experience and roots in the territory and its sporting, social and cultural fabric, the ASD with its commitment on the field playing a vital role still using lay volunteering.
The work carried out in schools is also important and for this we will never stop thanking a new generation of school leaders who consider sport to be a driving force for student education. Catania, thanks to all these components, is a city that is awakening and reclaiming its sporting vocation. In addition to the work carried out on the sports facilities which is still ongoing, the city has managed to attract many high-level sporting events. In addition to the fixed events already scheduled such as the “Corri Catania”, the Catania Marathon, the San Silvestro a mare, the reborn S. Agata Trophy, in 2024 Catania will host an international basketball tournament for rookies in June, again in June on World corporate sports championship organized by Csain which will see around 5 thousand athletes, in July the Italian skating championship with over a thousand participants, a stage of the Italian beach volleyball championship in August, finishing with the “Coni Trophy” with the participation of 5 thousand athletes representing 44 sports federations.
All these events will use the resources of sports tourism, a further initiative to encourage the organizers and which will bring over 50,000 overnight stays to Catania for the athletes alone with a forecast of a further 10,000 overnight stays for companions and parents with a very important spin-off for the economy of the province.
A sporting city that has given away 72 championships from the first in 1978 to Paoletti, followed by those of the Jolly Componibile of women’s football and of Alidea of women’s volleyball, up to the championships of Cus Catania of hockey, those of canoe polo and the infinite series of the Horizon in women’s water polo.
Unfortunately, in addition to these positive notes of a Catania on the move, we must note a latent crisis, especially regarding sports facilities for many parts of Sicily where the gap with other regions seems unbridgeable and whose condition does not allow important sports to be practiced. In these areas we will need to work harder to improve the culture and practice of sports. There are many initiatives in the region, often in collaboration with Coni Sicilia, to alleviate the economic difficulties of sports clubs thanks to targeted interventions in favor of sports associations such as law 8 for the strengthening of sports activities or law 31 and travel reimbursement for Serie A and B clubs; Also important is the provision of vouchers for children aged 6 to 16 with disadvantaged families, helping everyone to carry out sporting activities.
For 2024, resources have exceeded ten million. Sporting Sicily will have to exploit these resources and the important management that is the heritage of our island to change the current trend. Initiatives such as those promoted by the newspaper “La Sicilia” and all the others promoted by promoters, CONI and “Sport and health” can certainly be launching pads for the further development of Sicilian sport.
Enzo Falzone Deputy vice president of Coni Sicily and delegate for Catania
Tags: Health Wellbeing Catania move
