three days of competitions at the University of Catania

Goliardy, competitive spirit and desire to share. All this and much more is the University Palio which returns, for the nineteenth edition, from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th May in Catania.

At the event, organized from Cus Catania and fromUniversity of Cataniawill participate all departments of the University divided into 13 teams, for a total of around 200 athletes per team. Many new features for a Palio that will be experienced in the name of environmental sustainabilitybut also the confirmation of the format that was very successful in the previous edition.

An event awaited by students enrolled at the University of Catania, which has made the Palio one of the highlights in the city among the various sporting and non-sporting events. The “three days of university student competitions” has in fact become a heritage of the entire city. The city institutions, and not only them, feel increasingly involved in the event.

Many new features and significant returns to the competitions: dodgeball for example will be a new entry on Friday, and by popular demand the volleyball tournament will be organised. Dragon boating and rowing are back. Last year, Engineering emerged ahead of its historic rival Medicina.

University Palio Program 2024

First day (Wednesday 8 May): this year too the Palio will open with the student paradea parade that will affect the city center in the stretch between Villa Bellini and University squarethen the opening of the competitions with the first three competitions.

Second day (Thursday 9 May) we will move to the “Le Capannine” tourist village, on the Kennedy coast of Plaia di Catania.

There closing, Friday 10thin the facilities of the University Sports Center of Catania, for the conclusion of the competitions and the proclamation of the department that will win the 2024 edition.

The 2024 University Palio will be presented to the press on Wednesday 8 May at 10.30, in the main hall of the University’s central building (Piazza Università). They will intervenethe magnificent Rector Francesco Priolothe president of Cus Catania Luigi Mazzonethe mayor of Catania Enrico Trantinothe director general of FCE Salvatore Fiore and the manager of the administration area of ​​AMTS Rosario Laudani.

“The center of Catania – says the rector of the University of Catania Francesco Priolo – it will once again be filled, like last year, with thousands of students with their colorful t-shirts, parading with the right amount of fun and challenging each other to keep the honor of their departments high. The University Palio is an event that we await with real satisfaction, the moment in which thousands of young people loudly remind everyone that Catania is a great university city, a workshop of culture and also a hotbed of talents that are appreciated in Worldwide. Beyond the results of the fun sports competitions, it is the greatest moment of socialization in our university community which this year we are happy to share with other institutions and with all citizens.”

“The University Palio, now in its nineteenth edition, is one of the most anticipated events in Catania among young people and students – adds the president of the Etna University Sports Center Luigi Mazzone -. With the first day to be spent in Piazza Università, we will bring – as in the previous edition – the Cus outside the confines of the Citadel, handing the city over to the students. There will be three days of great celebration which, from the center of Catania, will move to the sandy coast of Plaia until returning to Cus for the last day. A “journey”, made of contagious joy and also competitive spirit, which will fill my heart with joy, as will the realization that the Palio will have a “green” look dedicated to environmental sustainability”.

Palio d’Ateneo Green that of the University of Catania

The Palio 2024 contributes to the promotion and implementation of 17 goals for Sustainable Development. In fact, the service was involved in supporting the organization “Policies for Sustainability” (Third Mission Area) of the University of Catania, with the aim of reducing the impact of the event through various actions: use of sustainable materials, separate waste collection, accessibility for all, compensatory measures. Thanks to the collaboration of the Department of Rural and Territorial Development of the Sicilian Region, the University will give each participating department a carob tree, native plant typical of the Mediterranean environment, as a compensatory measure for the CO2 emissions attributable to the event. Each department will have to provide a short video that shows how sustainability is applied in everyday university life. The video must be in line with the fun spirit of the event.

The University of Catania is part of the “European Universities”, transnational alliances of higher education institutions from across the EU that come together for the benefit of students, teachers, public bodies and businesses. The collaboration between CUS and the University has foreseen this year, within the organization of the University Palio, the realization of the First Palio EUNICE. Students from Italy, France, Poland, Spain and Greece who will face each other in speed and sack racing competitions.

Transport

In its “green” nature, the Palio will allow the competition theaters and above all the Cus Catania to be reached in a sustainable way for the final day, thanks to the active collaboration with FCE and AMTS. Here are the different modes:

• In FCE METROup to the “Milo” stop and continuing with the service Metro Shuttle which connects the metro to the University Center with a frequency of 1 bus every 10 minutes in the busiest periods. The Metro Shuttle service can be used by anyone in possession of a valid travel ticket for the FCE metro.

• In AMTS BUSusing different lines:
  • BRT1, 442, 556, 901, 628R > “Doria” stop on Viale Andrea Doria
  • BRT1 and 442 > “Cittadella Ovest” stop on Via Santa Sofia
  • BRT1 > “Cittadella Est” stop on Via Passo Gravina
  • 901 > 2 stops inside the Cittadella or “Santa Sofia Cittadella” stop

For those who cannot give up the use of the car, it is recommended to share the journey with other participants and to leave the car in free parking on Via Zenonefrom which it is possible reach Cus with the Metro Shuttle service.

The achievement of “Le Capannine” tourist village – for the second day of the race -, will be facilitated thanks to the strengthening of line D prepared by AMTS.