The “Intesa Sanpaolo Special Cup” is back in style. After the triumph of the first edition, which took place in March 2024 at the “Unipol Domus”, the beating heart of Cagliari Calcio, the event focused on inclusion made its appearance in Monza. Just this morning, at the “Luigi Berlusconi – Monzello” Sports Center, the athletes of the DCPS (Paralympic and Experimental Football Division) of the FIGC took to the pitch, demonstrating once again the unifying power of sport. Below is the report of the day and the words of the protagonists, reported by Be As One and Cagliari Calcio:
“A new chapter, therefore, deriving from the synergy between Cagliari Calcio, AC Monza and Intesa Sanpaolo, title partner of the competition, which with constant commitment and tenacity supports important values such as education, sociability, physical and mental well-being, to overcome every barrier and differentiation of sorts.
The banking group, Main Partner AC Monza, in addition to the relationship with Cagliari Calcio, has linked its name over the years with Special Olympics Italia, #CampionidiVita, Insuperabili, art4sport, Sport Therapy and many other fundamental stakeholders in a common and crucial mission for the society we live in.
Today, the teams from the second and third levels of AC Monza Special, Casteddu4Special and Insuperabili faced each other in the name of healthy sport and friendship. The latter lifted the first place cup in both categories (the women’s team in the second level and the men’s team in the third level). Fair Play Award, however, awarded to an AC Monza Special athlete.
Adriano Galliani, Deputy Vice President and CEO of AC Monza, commented: “We are very happy to have hosted the Special Cup at the Luigi Berlusconi Sports Center – Monzello. AC Monza and Intesa Sanpaolo have shared the same ethical values since the days of Serie C and in recent years there have been various initiatives carried out together with great social impact, involving the youth sector, the fans and our Monza Special boys. The latter were fantastic, accompanying us with their joy at the stadium and at the events throughout the season. I hope that they and the opponents of Casteddu4Special and Insuperabili have fully enjoyed the experience on the Centre’s courts.”
Thus Stefano Melis, Business and Media Director of Cagliari Calcio: “It was wonderful to be able to experience a new appointment with the Special Cup, which touched several stages and therefore demonstrated the increase in our commitment, that of Intesa Sanpaolo and of all the actors involved in this project and more generally in the pursuit of the healthiest values of sport and inclusion at all levels. Our Club has always believed in the need to implement its contribution towards empowerment and increasing awareness that everyone can and must have the same conditions of access to sports practice and to the various sectors of society, for this reason the Special Cup and partnerships like the one with Intesa Sanpaolo are crucial.”
Adds Pierluigi Monceri, Regional Director of Milan, Monza and Brianza Intesa Sanpaolo: “After #CampionidiVita, Intesa Sanpaolo was once again in Monza alongside inclusive sport, a great bearer of values. For the supporters, the public, the colleagues themselves who come into contact with initiatives such as the Intesa Sanpaolo Special Cup through the media, social networks and in person, it is a moment of great personal enrichment and demonstrates that everyone can participate and perhaps become great samples. We want to help spread this message by ensuring our support for the athletes who get involved and for those who organize these great events and make them possible.”
The words of Vincenzo Bastanza, DCPS Regional Delegate: “We are at the second edition of the Intesa Sanpaolo Special Cup, and I am convinced that others will follow. Intesa Sanpaolo shows that it has understood, welcomed and relaunched the spirit that animates the DCPS: football belongs to everyone, and the synergy with Cagliari Calcio is a concrete action so that football becomes for everyone. ‘Football belongs to everyone’ represents the root of the experience of the Paralympic Football Division, promoted by the FIGC, and today celebrated as a true success for sport, for clubs, for people. The experience at the Luigi Berlusconi Sports Center in Monza is It was then unforgettable for the male and female athletes playing: a field on which to grow up, a field of proud fans. As the Lombardy Regional Delegate, I thank you for this event, as a great example of true inclusion, healthy competition, authentic sport”.
Davide Leonardi of Insuperabili concludes: “We are very happy to have participated in the second edition of the Intesa Sanpaolo Special Cup which saw the involvement of our Women’s Team and the CP which also won the category championship this season. Together with Cagliari and Monza we shared the entire FIGC DCPS championship and today was a fantastic time to see each other again on the pitch and celebrate this beautiful season together. Holding the Tournament at the Monza Sports Center was an incredible emotion for our boys and girls who constantly dream of taking to these stages. We thank Intesa Sanpaolo and the organizers for this new beautiful and important day of football.”
