In preparation for the arrival of the Giro d’Italia in Fossano, there is much content in the “Speciale Giro d’Italia” by La Fedeltà: Vol.A, the custodians of clean sport.
The Vol.A association (anti-doping volunteers) was born in Fossano from the mind of Roberto Bima. The task of the “guardians of clean sport” is that of chaperones, or companions.
But what do chaperones do specifically? Their task is to give the athletes the notification that they have been subjected to testing, before or after the sporting performance, and from that moment escort them to the anti-doping station without ever losing sight of them. As “guardian angels”, as many have defined them, they travel the world to follow every type of sporting event.
From cycling to rugby through the Olympics, like those of 2006 from which the idea of the association was born. The story of Vol.A with its founder Roberto Bima and with the voices of the chaperones.
Roberto, when and how was Vol.A born?
We are children of the Turin 2006 Olympics; after that experience they called me to be co-coordinator together with the one who is now the vice president of Vol.A, Antonio Cordio, for the Fencing World Championships. That year was magical for Turin which, we can say, is still traveling on that wave. The following year there were the Universiade, from 17 to 27 January, and I remember that they called me from the medical institute of Turin sport to ask me if I had signed up as a volunteer.
This lady, Patrizia Biancolini – now the secretary of our association – told me not to make any commitments because they managed all the anti-doping. There I took on the task of managing the group of chaperones, I immediately said willingly, I was loaded with buckshot. That January 27th we were close to the inspectors and the person in charge, who came to me asking me what intentions we had after the Universiade. I said that I would like to continue this discussion, create an association, but without someone’s help I wouldn’t have had customers. The person in charge then told me that he would come down to Rome and to call a number, that of Francesco Lionelli. Thus began a work together.
The complete interview with Roberto Bima and the Vol.A collaborators on La Fedeltà on May 1st, together with all the contents of the “Speciale Giro d’Italia”. Run to the newsstand!
