Mutual differences have finally been overcome and the consequent stalemate situation which until now had held back the return of the Faenza districts to the FISB – Italian Flag-waving Federation – has ended. The Municipality of Faenza reports this. The positive outcome of the new affiliation request also came thanks to a letter signed by the mayor and Magistrate of the Districts Massimo Isola and the five district heads of the Niballo – Palio di Faenza addressed to the president and the FISB board of directors, after that, in Over the course of last year, some misunderstandings had led to the exclusion of flag-wavers belonging to the Faenza districts from the Federation and, consequently, from the competitions, including the Tenzone aurea 2023.
The letter came at the end of a months-long discussion followed directly by the mayor Massimo Isola, the deputy mayor Andrea Fabbri and the FISB president Antonella Palumbo which laid the foundations so that Faenza, founding member of the FISB, could continue to give its contribution to the world of flags, in the common interest of enhancing the work of the Federation and growth of the movement.
Mayor Massimo Isola declares: “In recent months we have started a very constructive discussion with the FISB so that the Faenza districts could fully return to the Federation. As we have had the opportunity to reiterate, Faenza, with its tradition, could in no way remain on the margins of a movement that is part of its identity. This was due above all to the hundreds of girls and boys who attend the districts every week to learn the art of flags and train with dedication and who risked continuing to be penalized unnecessarily. Regarding the participation of the Faenza flag-wavers in the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar in November 2022, I believe it is necessary to clarify that the episode was the result of a big misunderstanding and that it was certainly not Faenza’s intention to want to diminish the role and the prerogatives of the FISB. In that case, errors of underestimation were made. For our part, we also regret the tone in the agitated months to follow. Having said that, that page is closed and we are finally breathing a climate of renewed and constructive collaboration, also thanks to the great sense of responsibility of the Faenza districts that I want to publicly thank”.
For the president Antonella Palumbo “the path taken in recent months with Mayor Isola and his staff has been an important path that has allowed us to rebuild a healthy relationship between the Faenza districts and the FISB world, to put the pieces back together and above all to realign visions through a frank and direct dialogue, which gave rise to a constructive discussion which ends in these days with a jointly signed letter signed by all the founding bodies of the ancient historical reality of Faenza. Respect for each of the federal groups and the valorization of each individual member is a fundamental and founding element of our association, a principle that we felt we wanted to defend and care for on behalf of every musician, figure and flag-waver in Italy, remembering the need to follow – and make people follow – the rules that we as associations have established for the protection of everyone. I would like to underline that the FISB has always worked with seriousness and professionalism, in a climate of dialogue and collaboration with local institutions. Unfortunately, detractors through social media and the press have slowed down a constructive discussion, creating a climate of tension and spreading unfounded and misleading news which has made it difficult to reach a solution quickly: we are very happy that today instead we are able to put an end to head where someone thought there was only one point.”
