Decathlon in Como promoting a working table to formulate supporting proposals

The study of the causes started from a workshop carried out in 3 schools in the Como area, organized by Decathlon in collaboration with psychologists and mental coaches from the “Casetta del Coaching”. The approximately 70 participating young people reflected and discussed three questions: why do youdon’t practice sports? What are the valuesskills that the sport you practice teaches you? What expectations do you have towards the school, the neighborhood you live in and the sports center where you train?

The process of listening to young people culminates in the presentation of the results in the Municipality of Como, in an event held on 11 December, in the presence of the Mayor Alessandro Rapinese and representatives of the world of institutions and sport. The opportunity also gave the opportunity to formulate hypotheses, generated by the comparison, to stem the effects of the dropout.

“For the Como area, the initiatives to increase sports practice implemented by the Coni Lombardia Regional Committee and by the president – Marco Riva – through the local Delegation focus on supporting amateur clubs and on the implementation and redevelopment of sports facilities, with the aim of making sport more accessible, inclusive and attractive for all age groups – declared Adriana Lombardi, Director of the Coni Lombardia Regional Sports School -. Through training, which is our task specifically, we prepare the people who manage and train the young generations to face the challenges of the future, including dropout. In doing so we help the growth of sports culture.”

“It is essential that each Municipality undertakes to promote a new sporting culture, capable of involving and uniting schools, companies, local institutions and associations in a single network at the service of citizens – stated Miriam Nicchi, Sport Impact, Sport and Health Directorate -. Sport must certainly maintain a priority role for children and young people, but it is necessary to broaden its vision to physical activity and movement culture, so that it becomes an integral part of everyone’s life. At every age there is always a physical or sporting activity that can be practiced and suited to one’s needs and this awareness must accompany people throughout their existence. And this is precisely the objective that Sport and Health pursues: to promote a widespread, accessible and inclusive sporting culture, a sport truly for everyone and everyone.”

The moderators of the round table were Fulvio Matteoni, Head of Institutional Relations at Decathlon Italia / Member of the Advisory Board of Osservatorio Valore Sport and Rosario Cozzolino – Area Manager at Decathlon Italia.

Many participants Round table, among the athletes Angela Procida – bronze medalist at the Paris ’24 Paralympics 100m backstroke, also medalist at the recent World Championships in Singapore. World and European Champion, Swimming and Cycling. Giosué Epis – neopro Team Arkea B&B Hotels, Giacomo Nizzolo – former cyclist, 15 years of professionalism with more than 30 races won in the top category, 2020 European Champion, twice Italian Champion (2016 and 2020), 2 times winner of the Giro d’Italia points classification (2015 and 2016), 1 stage at the Giro d’Italia 2021.

Among the ‘technical-institutional’ speakers: Nicoletta Roperto – Deputy Mayor of Como, delegate for Youth Policies, Emiliano Briante – Head of the Business & Policy Impact area and of the European Affairs area of the Valore Sport Observatory, which Decathlon has supported for 4 years, Miriam Nicchi – Sport Impact – Sport and Health Adriana Lombardi – Director of the Coni Lombardia Regional Sports School, journalist, psychologist, teacher, trainer, author of technical books and university texts, as well as scientific articles, Davide Colombo – Sports Coach and Professional Mental Coach, co-founder of the “Casetta del Coaching”, Davide Facchin – resp. Como Calcio Youth Sector, career as a goalkeeper for Serie B and C teams (among others Padova, Reggina, Reggiana, Venezia and Como), Mattia Belluzzi – Como Calcio Youth Sector Psychologist, Silvia Epis – Head of the FCI Youth Sector and collaborator of Strada Donne coach Marco Velo.