This morning the Unipol Domus opened its doors to the “Special Cup Intesa Sanpaolo 2024”, the first ever regional edition of the sporting event dedicated to inclusion and the healthiest values of sport such as education, physical and mental wellbeing, sociality, against all barriers and differentiation. Intesa Sanpaolo is the title partner of the competition. A choice consistent with the Bank’s commitment to supporting sport, particularly when it aims at inclusion.
Over 150 male and female athletes from all over Sardinia livened up the morning on the pitch and in the stands of the stadium that usually hosts the red and blue team. Special guests Leonardo Pavoletti and Gabriele Zappa, representing the sports segment of Cagliari Calcio, together with Business and Media Director Stefano Melis and Marketing Manager Corrado Pusceddu. For Intesa Sanpaolo Umberto Sorrentino, Sardinia Area Director of the North Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Sardinia Regional Directorate. With them, to bring further messages and contributions from the kick-off to the final award ceremonies, the president of the Italian Referees Association of Cagliari Andrea Melis.
The clubs involved: Macomerese, San Paolo Sassari, Gioventù Assemini, La Torre, Assosulcis, Speedy Sport, Ammentos, Ferrini, Juventude, Tuttavista Galtellì, Una Ragione in Più.
A day full of content under the banner of sport and living together all the experiences linked to the game, growing on an individual and collective level thanks to projects that are developed synergistically between Cagliari Calcio – which has been committed to this front for years – and its partners, specifically in this case Intesa Sanpaolo. The banking group, in addition to Casteddu4Special, has linked its name to Special Olympics Italia, #CampionidiVita, Insuperabili Women and the Insuperabili football schools, Monza for Special, art4sport, Sport Therapy, Anche a Leo piace giallo, Trofeo della Mole 2.0 and the Turin and Venice stages of the Inclusive Padel tour 2023.
These are the verdicts of the tournament: first place in the 2nd Level for Una Ragione in Più; in the 3rd Level it was the Macomerese team that took first place; the winner of the 3rd Level – 5-a-side football was Juventude. Fair Play prize for San Paolo Sassari.
“It is fundamental to always guarantee access to sport for all, without any kind of discrimination,” explains Cagliari Calcio’s Business and Media Director Stefano Melis, who heads the area of the red and blue club to which the organisation and coordination of the project refers. ‘Today, more and more, sport rhymes with inclusion, and represents a safe place where athletes can live together and interact, regardless of the presence or absence of a disability. As Cagliari Calcio,’ he continues, ‘we strongly believe in empowerment, i.e. the growth of self-awareness as individuals and within a group, through sport, in addition to the well-known benefits that affect physical health. Partnerships like the one with Intesa Sanpaolo are crucial to strengthen the commitment of all stakeholders and carry it forward day after day, creating value and generating strength, positivity and values that are a reference for everyone, no one excluded’.
Stefano Cappellari, Regional Director Piedmont North, Aosta Valley and Sardinia Intesa Sanpaolo commented: “A few weeks after the #CampionidiVita initiative, Intesa Sanpaolo is once again in Cagliari alongside inclusive sport, a great bearer of values. For supporters, the public, and colleagues themselves, who through the media, social media and in person come into contact with initiatives such as the Intesa Sanpaolo Special Cup, it is a moment of great personal enrichment and shows that everyone can participate and perhaps become great champions. We want to help spread this message by ensuring our support for the athletes who get involved and for those who organise these great events and make them possible”.
