Italian Regions Roll Out Youth Sports Education Programs

The Friuli Venezia Giulia region launched a pilot project called “La Regione per lo Sport nella Scuola,” presented in Udine on 12 May. The initiative seeks to embed qualified sports technicians, societies and federations into schools so children can experience a variety of disciplines, counter the drop‑off in participation after age 13 and address gender and migrant gaps. Andrea Marcon, president of the regional CONI, said, “We want to build a project that truly enters schools,” while Olympic fencer Mara Navarria stressed that “trying many sports from a young age is fundamental.”

In Lecco, the historic rowing club Canottieri Lecco unveiled the BRAVI platform (Belonging, Respect, Activity, Values, Inclusion). BRAVI combines sport, education, environmental sustainability and community engagement, offering multi‑sport events, training camps, school programmes and eco‑initiatives such as water‑refill points. The programme targets youth, families, schools, universities and local businesses, aiming to make sport a vehicle for personal growth and social inclusion.