by Clara Scarpellini
Today (Tuesday 7 May) the forty-sixth edition of the Bergamo Sports Academy for Solidarity Tennis Tournament was presented at the Provincial headquarters. It is important to remember that, also thanks to the efforts of the Academy, for some time now Bergamo has become the capital of solidarity in everyone’s eyes, carrying forward a project that combines sport and commitment to the community, which is very important throughout our territory.
Many of the figures involved in this year’s sports initiative were invited to the conference. In particular, they attended Giovanni Licinifounder of the Academy of Sport for Solidarity; Giovanni Manzonipresident of Anmic; Claudia Maria Terziregional councilor; Pasquale Gandolfipresident of the Province of Bergamo; Monsignor Giulio Della Vite And Ferruccio Rota, president of the Bergamo City Council. This year many objectives were achieved. Among these, the inauguration of the new oncology center in Bergamo and the achievement of three million euros in donations.
2024 goals and objectives
After the epochal turning point achieved during Covid in 2020, where the Academy donated, in addition to machinery and safety devices, also a mobile CT scan to the Asst Bergamo Est and an oxygen system to the hospital at the Fair, now the association is ready to face a new emergency affecting our territory: the increase in cancer patients, even at a young age.
As he explained Antonello Zangrandi, general director of the Casa di Cura San Francesco, the Academy of Sport for Solidarity responded promptly to the call, organizing a long and important fundraiser. In the end, the objective was achieved: Casa di Cura San Francesco and Papa Giovanni hospital inaugurated the new oncology center on 20 April. A goal that includes nine seats and two beds, capable of achieving an increase of twenty patients per week and drastically reducing waiting lists.
Now the objective of the Academy of Sport for Solidarity is to continue to support the health center and identify new initiatives intended for future donations. Such as, for example, contributing to the Anmic transport service and to a housing independence project for the children of the Italian Association of People with Down syndrome in Bergamo. A big thank you was given, not only to the participants of the tournament (about three hundred athletes and VIPs already confirmed), but also to the spectators who, with their presence, will contribute to the Academy’s cause. To increase support for the solidarity mission, lottery tickets will also be distributed.
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In the front row, the candidates for mayor of Bergamo: Elena Carnevali (centre-left) and Andrea Pezzotta (centre-right)
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The unmissable days
The association’s tournament will take place, like the previous edition, on the renovated fields of the Cittadella dello Sport in via Monte Gleno, in Bergamo. The sports days will begin on May 16th, with tennis and padel tournaments, and will end on May 31st. A tennis tournament for the under 12 category, dedicated to children from the provincial territory, was also organised, for 18 May, from 9am to 6pm. While on 23 and 24 May, for the Enrico Barcella Tournament, twelve of the strongest girls in Italy in the under 17 category will participate. Then there will be the historic trophies, such as the Achille and Cesare Bortolotti one, now in its thirty-sixth edition; the one dedicated to Giacinto Facchetti (sixteenth edition); the Franco Morotti Tournament (ninth edition); the Asc cup and the Mediolanum cup; the Mirko Pedretti Tournament; finally, the one dedicated to Giorgio Röhrich.
For this year’s long-awaited tournament, the participation of illustrious personalities from the world of entertainment and sport at a national level has been announced, which will make the 2024 edition even more special. On June 4th, however, there will be the inevitable Gala at the end of the event, i.e. the evening during which those who have distinguished themselves with their commitment to solidarity will be rewarded. As for the Golden VIP awards ceremony, the minister will be the protagonists Giancarlo Giorgettithe president of Unionchimica Claudio Bombardieri and the Atalanta player Giorgio Scalvini.
