Yesterday, December 18, the Sports Gala, organized by OPES, was held at Palazzo Brancaccio. Now a well-established and widely attended event, it has reached its sixth edition.
Every year, the event is centered around a specific concept: for this edition, it was the Sports Community project (presented on November 6 in the Multipurpose Hall – Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in the presence of the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, and the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Maria Teresa Bellucci – click here for more) that inspired the entire evening.
The December initiative was also distinguished by the contributions of some of the most prominent figures in the sports and institutional world. Joining the OPES National President, Juri Morico, in the greetings were: Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, Silvia Salis, Deputy Vice President of CONI, Beniamino Quintieri, President of the Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit, Wanda Ferro, Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior, and Flavio Siniscalchi, Head of the Department for Sport.
The Sports Gala Meets the Sports Community Project
The 2024 Gala echoed the Sports Community project, which is now in its final phase. This ambitious initiative, lasting twelve months, created connections and networks among people from the sports sector, the third sector, municipal administrations, stakeholders, and more. The initiative was structured around the work of five Communities of Practice. The fourth one, “Promoting and enhancing local success stories to develop a shared vision of the social and economic value of sport as a tool for dialogue and shared growth,” inspired the sixth edition of the Sports Gala.
OPES identified four flagship organizations: Lega Unica, Academy ProAbile, Roma Blind Football, and Ledesma Academy. Representatives, members, and delegates from these associations took turns on stage alongside journalists Simona Rolandi and Lorenzo Donzelli to share their commitment to and support of the COP’s objectives highlighted by the initiative. Their contributions excited and moved the audience, fully conveying the passion and daily dedication of each association.
In the spirit of collaborative work, just a few hours before the Gala evening began at Palazzo Brancaccio, OPES also presented the AttivAzione and Winner projects, respectively focused on project development within the third sector and combating one of the most challenging social issues: gambling addiction, particularly among young people.
Comment from OPES National President Juri Morico
Following the event, OPES National President Juri Morico commented on the new direction of the Sports Gala, which now builds upon one of the organization’s most recent, complex, and valuable initiatives: “Once again this year,” Morico said, “the Sports Gala has embraced an initiative that we believe can have meaningful impact on the social fabric and reflects our commitment to adopting an innovative approach, in a way that is, in part, revolutionary. We start from one of our projects, something we know well, and we export good practices.”
Looking ahead to the future and the editions to come, he added: “We are confident that this edition, inspired by an output of a project like Sports Community, described by many as a model, can open doors and engage stakeholders, friends, and partners. With this special evening, we are launching a new cycle of the Sports Gala, increasingly generating value and opportunities.”
