Record numbers for the 2024 edition of the Freedom Games, an event organized by Spi Cgil, which turns 30 this year. 75 participants, 160 works competing. Yesterday afternoon, Saturday 15 June 2024, at the Casa sul Pozzo in Lecco, the highly anticipated provincial phase awards were held.
30 years of Games of Freedom, the awards ceremony yesterday: 75 participants and 160 competing works
The Freedom Games aim to push those over 55 to get involved with their expressive abilities, to satisfy their interests, to use their free time in a virtuous way, thus fighting loneliness and isolation.
There are several new features this year: the debut of the “artefacts” category, but above all the popular jury. Sixty gave their opinions on the works, via a digital catalog or by observing them in person during the three days of exhibition open to the public. Another 50 voted online for stories and poems. A result beyond all expectations, which further increased involvement in the event, one of the most important moments in the programming of the wellness area of Spi Cgil Lecco, active all year round in organizing initiatives aimed at promoting the active aging of the elderly population , registered and not in the union.
The theme: water. There are 5 categories of the competition
The theme of this year’s games was linked to a fundamental element for us and for the planet: water, the source of life. Precious asset not to be wasted and a basic right for humanity, defined by the Greek philosopher Thales as “the principle of being”. A topic in the wake of the awareness-raising carried out in previous editions on respect for the environment in which we live and on the consequences of climate change. The competition has five categories: poems, stories, photography, painting, and, as mentioned, from this year also artefacts.
Three winners for each category, one for the free theme, one for the competition theme (water), and another chosen by the popular jury. For the winners of vouchers to spend on culture. The awards ceremonies were interspersed with traditional Middle Eastern music Simone Mor.
Great emotion for the “1+1=3” bowls competition won by Oltretutto 97
In parallel with the creative competition, thanks to the precious commitment of the SPI volunteers, moments of a playful and inclusive nature, competitions and tournaments of briscola, burraco, tennis, dance and bowls have been organized in recent weeks. In this regard, “1+1=3”, the bowls competition reserved for disabled people, who play with the help of Spi CGIL volunteers, was very exciting. The final was held on Friday 13 June at the Bocciofila Garlatese. It is the third edition of the initiative, which records constantly growing participation. This time there were 11 associations present.
Oltretutto 97 from Lecco took first place, followed by La Goccia from Lecco, Le Grigne from Primaluna, CDE from Merate and Casa dei Ragazzi from Olgiate. More than one hundred in total were present, including disabled children and volunteers. The municipal administration of Garlate, which sponsored the competition, also took part in the awards ceremony, together with the mayor Beppe Conti. A great party, which once again testifies to the Spi di Lecco’s commitment to leaving no one behind. Each individual must be able to cultivate their own interests and passions. After the final, there was a lunch together, organized with the collaboration of the Garlatese bowling club.
“For many, the long-awaited goal of retirement can turn into loneliness and boredom. For this reason, with passion and investing a lot of energy, we organize the Freedom Games every year: we want to encourage the elderly to cultivate interests and aptitudes, to go out and get involved We are very happy that participation is constantly growing, proving the goodness of the initiative”, the comment of the general secretary of Spi Cgil Lecco, Pinuccia Cogliardi.
“The choice of Casa sul Pozzo as the venue for the awards was no coincidence. The community of Via Gaggio makes inclusion its mission, just as we want to commit ourselves to ensuring that the elderly people of the area feel alive within our society. Also worth highlighting is the success of the popular jury, which allowed us to broaden interest and participation even further, an initiative that we will certainly propose again next year”, explains the organizational secretary of Spi Cgil Lecco, Luigia Valsecchi.
Below are the photos of the competition awards:
