MINISTER ABODI ON THE FIELD AT MANUZZI WITH CALCIO INTEGRATO
A historic day has just come to an end for Cesena FC and the “Per un Calcio Integrato” (For Integrated Football) Project, which welcomed a visit from the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, to the Orogel Stadium – Dino Manuzzi.
Following the meeting held in Rome on March 17, in which Minister Abodi met with the girls and boys participating in the social inclusion program developed by the Bianconeri club, a new event was held today. Other integrated soccer organizations in the area, namely Around Savignano and San Marino, also participated.
The Minister for Sport and Youth personally attended the training session organized by the staff led by Massimo Buratti, Head of the Bianconeri Project. He took part in various themed exercises prepared for over forty children with intellectual or motor disabilities. Enzo Lattuca and Christian Castorri, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the City of Cesena, joined him on the pitch.
Together with the Cesena FC Under-15 Girls and Under-13 Boys teams, in line with one of the project's main objectives, which is to promote the socialization of participants to open the doors to an increasingly inclusive community, the integrated players took turns in four different exercises, with the common goal of increasing team spirit.
“What we experienced at the Manuzzi Stadium,” said Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth, ”was an exciting afternoon of personal enrichment, but I hope it was also enjoyable for the children, coaches, managers, and families. A few weeks ago, in the Multipurpose Hall of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, I promised the boys and girls of the 'Per un Calcio Integrato' project that we would see each other again soon on the pitch, and so we did. I kept my promise, in a special event, with the pleasure of carrying out the mission entrusted to me by President Meloni. Wherever there is an opportunity with such significant human and social content that involves people with disabilities, I will always try to be present, even in the context of sport, sharing the emotions and joy that sport brings and embracing the young athletes and listening to the needs of their families. Afternoons like the one we have just experienced deeply represent the constitutional value of sport, as described in paragraph 7 of Article 33.
“The visit to our stadium by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, filled us with joy,” commented Corrado Di Taranto, General Manager of Cesena FC. “It was an incredible and unforgettable experience, not only for the club, but above all for all our young players and their wonderful families. Seeing Italy's highest sporting institution playing on the pitch alongside the stars of Calcio Integrato, sharing smiles and hugs, was deeply moving, and I would like to thank Minister Abodi once again for his availability and attention to our project. A result like this was probably something we couldn't have hoped for at the beginning of the year, but I believe it is the right recognition for the great work behind the “Per un Calcio Integrato” project, something I am particularly fond of and which is carried out with admirable passion and dedication by Massimo Buratti and all his staff of technicians and professionals. I am also delighted to have been able to share this day with Amadori, the project's long-standing main partner, as well as Alpha Immobiliare and BCC Romagnolo, who are supporting the club in this initiative from this year onwards and whose ongoing support is fundamental to the development of the 'Per un Calcio Integrato' program.
