“Fencing for all”: the international project for inclusion on the platform from Rome

The international round table “Fencing for All”, organized by the Italian Fencing Federation in collaboration with the FIE, officially inaugurated a great new path of social integration along the path traced by Italy. The representatives of 15 national federations gathered in a hotel in the capital for the meeting requested by the federal president Luigi Mazzone, in the presence of the general secretary of the FIE, Gulnora Saidova and the president of the European confederation, Pascal Tesch. The proceedings were opened by the CEO of Sport and Health, Diego Nepi Molineris, who recalled how this initiative “is a concrete example of the values that guide Italian fencing and of the extraordinary potential of sport as an educational and social tool. Sport and Health will always be at the side of initiatives of this kind, convinced that every child and young person should be able to access sporting experiences that enhance their abilities. I also want to underline the fruitful and constructive dialogue that we are carrying on with President Mazzone and with CONI, with the aim of also support the ‘Sport ti Libera’ project, aimed at combating digital addiction through sports, promoting physical activity, mental well-being and social relationships among young people. Initiatives like these show us that sport is truly a tool for growth, inclusion and health for everyone. Thanks again to President Mazzone and to all those who make this extraordinary journey possible.”

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Mazzone underlined: “I am proud to see how a project conceived and desired by the Italian Fencing Federation is brought to the attention of the global family of our sport in this way. This project represents a great cultural challenge which takes place in a special competition, symbol of a great path of competitiveness and inclusion on the platforms of Italian fencing: a mixed team épée competition in which neurotypical and autistic Olympic athletes or those with intellectual disabilities compete together. The participation of 15 companies from from all over Italy represented the first step, while waiting for the final scheduled in Milan on May 17th, the biggest dream, which takes shape here today, thanks to the Fie and all the representatives of the national Federations, is to transform this competition into a great international event next year”. The general secretary of the Fie, Saidova, is enthusiastic: “I am favorably impressed by this project and by the great professionalism with which the Italian Federation is carrying it forward. It is precisely professionalism that is needed to face and win this great challenge: the support of the medical world, the commitment of the entire fencing community, will allow us to give strength to this great journey that has already begun. I fully agree with a concept well expressed here: it’s not just the medals that count, but the inclusion of young people and of all of us. We are working to create something even more structured.”

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Present, representing their respective national federations, were Patricia Aiyenuro and Rick Rodgers (Great Britain), Pitchou Bolenge Yoma (Congo), Américo Ferreira (Portugal), Dominique Hornus-Dragne (France), Ursula Charlie Kappus (Ireland), Elisa Khostaria (Georgia), Ádám Makk (Hungary), Ippokratis Manoudakis (Greece), Malte Trier Moerch (Denmark), Detelin Nedelchev Penev (Bulgaria), Maria Silva (Cape Verde), Sunil Kumar Shrestha (Nepal), Pierre Thullberg and Ana Valero-Collantes (Sweden), and – remotely – Ziv Shay (Israel), Angel Garcia (Peru) and Zeyad Saleem (Iraq). Among the many managers who attended, Vincenzo De Bartolomeo (member of the Comex of the EFC and Secretary General of the Mediterranean Confederation), the Federal Councilor Daria Marchetti (contact person for the Paralympic sector), the Secretary General of the FIS Marco Cannella, the federal doctor Alessandro Pagliaccia, the President of the Semi Commission Giandomenico Varallo, the master Renzo Musumeci Greco and many other members of the Italian and international fencing family also participated in the work. The debate, of great interest, developed around three very high profile scientific reports: “Understanding autism in sport”, edited by the federal president and child neuropsychiatrist Luigi Mazzone, “Approach to people with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities” and “Organising a fencing gym for an autistic athlete”, edited – respectively – by doctors Assia Riccioni and Laura Maria Fatta, members of the FIS Working Group “Fencing for Intellectually disabled people”. The grand finale was on the stage, where the representatives of Italy and Denmark competed in an inclusive, exciting and hard-fought team épée match. The Danes won but the team made up of Alessio Pirottina, Marco Misiani, Susanna Gatti and Emiliano Bacci, led on the bench by maestro Emilio Lucenti and Jacopo D’Antonio, drew applause. The Italian model of “fencing for all”, which conquers international platforms, was born with them.