FITP surpasses FIGC in Italian sports memberships

For the first time in history, the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) has overtaken the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in terms of registered athletes. According to the 2024 CONI-FNSdsa monitoring report, the FITP recorded 1,162,477 members, accounting for 20.2% of total federal registrations, while the FIGC followed with 1,123,054 members (19.5%).

This shift is attributed to a combination of high-profile international successes by athletes such as Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Jasmine Paolini, and Matteo Berrettini, alongside the rapid expansion of padel. The growth of racket sports is supported by an increasing infrastructure of over 4,000 affiliated clubs, 2,500 tennis and padel schools, and a growing network of technical professionals.

While the data reflects registered federation members rather than total casual practitioners or television viewers, it marks a significant symbolic change in the Italian sporting landscape. Other major sports following the top two include volleyball, basketball, and athletics.