Epfa Nations Cup, in Lignano Sabbiadoro the European Powerchair Football European

Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine) will host the EPFA Nations Cup-European Championships, a PowerChair Football competition from Friday 19th September to Wednesday 24 September, which will see the participation of ten European nations (selected according to the official EPFA ranking) to compete for the continental title. Among these is obviously Italy, which hosts the event for the first time and which for the first time will also try to qualify for the World Cup scheduled in 2026 in Argentina and which the first five classified will access. The competition is organized by the FIPPS (Italian Federation of Paralympic Powerchair Sport), with the support of the Italian Paralympic Committee and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, which in the days of the event will welcome 80 athletes and almost 300 among managers, judges, technicians, doctors and volunteers. France, England (reigning champion), Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Denmark the other national teams on the pitch in Lignano Sabbiadoro.

What is the Powerchair Football

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The Powerchair Football is the second Paralympic discipline that the Italian Powerchair Football Federation manages together with the Powerchair Hockey, of which the Azzurri are world champions. The entry in 2020 of this sport, aimed at athletes with severe disabilities, gave life to the FIPPS. Athletes compete in electronic wheelchairs with a maximum speed of 10 km/h designed specifically for the sport of wheelchair football. Most of the rules are similar to those of football, but with some obvious differences: each team consists of four athletes, including the goalkeeper, the ball has a diameter of 33 centimeters. One of the most specific rules is that of the two against one: only a footballer and one of his opponents can remain within three meters from the ball when it is at stake; If a third (which is not the goalkeeper in his area) approaches less than that distance, the referee assigns a free kick. In Powerchair Football there is no gender distinction: the teams are made up of eight players and players, including four on the pitch and four others available.

blue shirt

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Italy, led by the 32 -year -old Roman Marco Ferrazza, flag of the Thunder Roma and always present in the blue rose, is preparing to return to the Parquet of Lignano Sabbiadoro. And it will do so by wearing the official jersey of the Italian national football team, delivered by the manager of the Paralympic and experimental football division of the FIGC Giovanni Sacripante in the hands of Simone Ranzato, captain of the National of Powerchair Football, during the presentation press conference that took place in Rome, at the CONI Honor Salone. Mohamed Ali Youssef Khaled Salama, Giovanni Bernabé Capra, Emiliano Bortoluzzi, Irene Infantino, Gabriel Mindru, Gabriele Torcutti and Gabriele Zoggia are the others called Azzurri.

words

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“Today is a historical moment – the words of the president of Coni Luciano Buonfiglio -, born from a friendship with President De Sanctis built on doing, on making our projects together. A shared commitment, with a strong social value. It is not an adventure, but a real challenge, and I am convinced that we will be able to win it. Divide it in Paralympic and not. “I am particularly honored that, among the first great competitive events of my mandate as president of the CIP, there is the one with the Epfa Nations Cup, the European Powerchair Football European that Italy hosts for the first time and that will see the debut, above all, of our young national one on such a prestigious stage – said the number one of the Cip Marco Giunio De Sanctis – just wanting to take to the field, in the field, in the field, Sports as in life, and results and great satisfactions never worry to arrive. “With great pride we announce the launch of an event with a strong sporting and symbolic value, which marks the historical debut of the Italian national team in a major international competition – added the president of the FIPPS Andrea Piccillo -. This event is not only a prominent sporting appointment, but also a unique opportunity to give visibility, strength and perspective to the Powerchair Football. Bringing the European Championship in Italy means tracing a deep furrow in the history of our movement and Turn on a new light on the future of the Powerchair Football in our country “. “Participating with the national team for the first time in a European Powerchair Football is a great honor, doing it in our house will be a stimulus to do well and proud our fans – explained the blue coach Marco Ferrazza -. Very demanding challenges are waiting for much more experienced challenges of us on certain stage but I and the staff believe we have selected a nice mix of young and expert players who will be able The blue shirt at best. “

the program

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The opening ceremony, broadcast live streaming like all the races of the EPFA Nations Cup on the FIPPS YouTube channel, will take place on Friday 19 September at 15.30, and will be followed by the first two games of the tournament, scheduled respectively at 18.30 and 20. The races will continue until Wednesday 24 September, the final day, with the one for the title that will start at 16.30. The 10 teams were divided into two groups of five: in Group A there are Belgium, Germany, Spain, France and Ireland of the North, in Group B Italia, England, Denmark, Scotland and Ireland. The Azzurri will debut on Friday 19 at 18.30 against Denmark, and then faced England on Saturday 20 at 18.15, on Sunday 21 at 16.30 Ireland and on Monday 22 at 18.15 Scotland. The first two of each group will qualify at the semifinals of Tuesday 23, with the other teams that on the same day will play the placements in the final ranking.

the mission

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The competition will take place at the Bella Italia Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro, a completely accessible structure, with infrastructures without barriers and equipped with ramps, paths and accommodation adapted for people with reduced mobility. This event, in fact, is not only a sporting competition, but an opportunity to celebrate the values ​​of inclusion and accessibility, showing that sport can really be for everyone, regardless of difficulties. With the support of all the people involved, the European Powerchair Football championship represents an important step towards the creation of a more fair and supportive company. –