The interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, published in Tuttosport, delves into key issues regarding the economic and social impact of sports, highlighting its role in diplomacy and in promoting the country’s image abroad. Tajani also stresses the importance of investing in school sports and ensuring the autonomy of sports federations from politics, while acknowledging the State’s responsibility in supporting infrastructure development.
Sports and diplomacy: a bridge among nations
Sports represent an invaluable educational pillar, teaching fundamental values that shape character and foster strong moral growth. The impact of sports goes beyond shaping athletes; it molds individuals capable of facing life’s challenges with determination, turning victories and defeats into opportunities for learning. Sports serve as a powerful cultural vehicle, transcending competition to become deeply rooted in individual development, enriching the history and identity of an entire nation.
Historically, the Italian political agenda has often overlooked the significance of sports, relegating it to a peripheral issue. As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, “In republican Italy, sports emerged with the original sin of being exploited by fascism for propaganda purposes, as is often the case with authoritarian regimes. However, it was a mistake to relegate it to a trivial matter for so long. We stem from figures like Milo of Croton, the greatest wrestler of his era—the Sinner of Magna Graecia. Milo of Croton was not invented by Mussolini. In short, sports deserve attention from politics. It is important culturally, as evidenced by the vast literature produced on the subject. What was once seen as the pastime of the ignorant is now, fortunately, a cultural moment in a nation’s life.”
Sports should no longer be confined to a pastime for the few. They possess the ability to inspire, break down social and political barriers, and unite people through universal values. Aware of this strength, Tajani established a sports diplomacy office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advocating the idea that “sports break down borders and build bridges… I appointed athletes like Sinner, Spalletti, Bortuzzo, Cocciaretto, and the women’s fencing team as sports ambassadors for Italy. Their mission is to promote Italy’s image worldwide. We organize Sports Week at embassies, bringing our athletes to improve the country’s visibility and that of its companies. Sports are an extraordinary tool for diplomacy and beyond.”
Promoting values through champions. The role of schools
Successful athletes, such as Sinner, act as role models for younger generations, instilling positive values and inspiring youth to achieve their goals. Tajani remarked, “He is a simple and humble young man. I hold high regard for him not only as an extraordinary champion but also as a person. When he visited the Ministry, he was kind and approachable to everyone. Authentic champions reveal themselves in such details. Never a gesture or attitude of arrogance. This is crucial because young people look up to champions, and if they are like Sinner, entire generations are inspired by their values”.
The minister also emphasized the school’s role in promoting sports and supporting young athletes. He stated, “If we want more athletes at this level (referring to tennis players), we must improve sports in schools, giving more importance to physical education and avoiding treating students involved in competitive sports as slackers. Teachers need to understand and support these young people, who make sacrifices and adhere to strict discipline. Sports also help to rehabilitate degraded areas of cities and improve the overall health of the nation. Those who engage in sports are healthier and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.”
Health, economy, and development: the data by Sport e Salute
Sports act as a significant economic driver, generating revenues through events, infrastructure development, equipment production, and tourism. “Major events bring prestige to the country and generate economic benefits while inspiring new generations to participate in sports. Sports are a business; they boost the economy. From building facilities to sportswear and tourism, sports are an essential sector, both as entertainment and practice, and a critical element of a nation’s economy, especially for one like ours.”
On health, investing in sports also provides substantial public savings. Studies cited in the Tuttosport article estimate that for every euro invested by the State in sports, there is a return of seven euros in public health savings: “Those who play sports are healthier and weigh less on the healthcare system”, Tajani said. A 2023 report by Sport e Salute evaluated the impact of sports across socio-health (health, well-being, healthcare sustainability), economic (GDP and employment), and accessibility (facilities and availability). The findings revealed significant sedentariness in Italy’s population, with recommendations including increased investment, simplified bureaucracy, enhanced school and workplace sports programs, and public awareness campaigns.
The Italian government could save 171 euro for every person who transitions from a sedentary lifestyle to regularly practicing sports. If Italy aligned with the OCSE average for sedentary population (34.7%), it could save 900 million annually in healthcare costs. These savings would stem from improved individual health and a consequent reduction in pressure on the national healthcare system. The healthcare cost of sedentariness in Italy in 2019 was quantified at 3.8 billion, equivalent to 1.7% of the country’s total public and private healthcare expenditure.
Furthermore, the sources of the document identify several barriers hindering sports participation in Italy, both from the demand and supply sides.
Economic barriers:
- High costs. In Italy, 10% of citizens do not engage in sports due to excessive costs. This barrier is particularly significant for low-income families and children.
Infrastructure Barriers:
- Limited facility provision: Italy has a provision of 131 sports facilities per 100,000 inhabitants, below the European average of 250 facilities and significantly lower than countries like Finland (nearly 600 facilities per 100,000 inhabitants).
- Lack of school gyms: Six out of ten school buildings in Italy lack a gym, creating an accessibility gap for children to engage in sports activities.
- Limited facility provision: Italy has a provision of 131 sports facilities per 100,000 inhabitants, below the European average of 250 facilities and significantly lower than countries like Finland (nearly 600 facilities per 100,000 inhabitants).
Cultural barriers partially hinder the spread of sports practice among Italians. About 27% of Italians do not engage in sports due to lack of motivation or interest, compared to 25% in the EU-27. Furthermore, 31% of Italians engage in physical activity primarily to improve their physical appearance, compared to 21% in the EU-27. Among children aged 3 to 10, swimming dominates with 43% participation, followed by football (23.2%) and dance (15.1%).
This trend reflects a significant lack of diversification in motor skill development from an early age. It is paradoxical that sports games, once practiced daily in courtyards and essential for both motor and psychological development, have become marginalized. This scenario can be attributed to cultural and structural factors. On one hand, parents who can afford to involve their children in sports often rely on popular beliefs, such as the idea that swimming has universal benefits for physical development. However, while swimming is crucial for water safety, it does not stimulate basic terrestrial motor skills—running, jumping, kicking, throwing, rolling, etc…—which are fundamental for comprehensive growth. Sports like rugby, which engage most of these abilities, or football, which provides partial but significant training (throwing is absent except for goalkeepers), are often overlooked in favor of disciplines perceived as “safe” or “beneficial” but ultimately limiting.
Another critical factor is the lack of adequate infrastructure. After World War II, street sports played a fundamental role in the development of motor skills and socialization among youth. Today, however, large cities lack sufficient green spaces for children to freely engage in sports. This shortfall has not been offset by an increase in physical education hours in schools or by the creation of accessible and safe facilities to replace these spaces. In Southern Italy, the situation is even more dire, with a chronic lack of suitable facilities creating a significant regional disparity. This divide limits the discovery and development of athletic talent, effectively splitting the country in two and reducing the talent pool available to the Italian sports system.
Encouraging sports participation through targeted investments could generate positive externalities on social, economic, and athletic levels. Despite the advantages in all areas, Italy’s public spending on sports ranks 16th among the EU-27 countries, with the nation investing less than its European counterparts. These figures are even more striking when considering that in 2019, the broader sports sector generated €24.5 billion in added value, equivalent to 1.37% of the national GDP.
“Sport is part of the heritage of every man and every woman, and its absence can never be compensated”
— Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games
The Yamal case and citizenship
Another topic addressed by the Minister concerns certain legal restrictions that may hinder the emergence of young talents born in Italy to foreign parents. Lamine Yamal is a professional footballer who plays for Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Despite his young age, he has already made a significant impact on international football, playing a pivotal role in Spain’s success at the 2024 European Championship. His participation in such a prestigious tournament at just 17 years old highlights not only his talent but also the legislative differences between countries regarding citizenship acquisition. In Spain, Yamal was able to obtain citizenship at a young age, thanks to laws that facilitate the integration of immigrants’ children. In contrast, Italy’s current regulations require children born to foreign parents on Italian soil to wait until they turn 18 to apply for citizenship. This means that, in a similar context, a young talent like Yamal would not have been able to represent Italy in international competitions before reaching adulthood.
“It would be fair to address this issue, not just for top-level athletes like Yamal. If you were born in Italy or completed all your schooling in Italy, at 16 years old, if you want to be Italian, you should be allowed to be. At 18, even those who haven’t contributed anything, or perhaps have even engaged in criminal activity, can become citizens—why should a young person who has learned the language and culture, participated in school sports, and lived as an Italian student not be considered Italian? I go beyond the concept of Ius Scholae; I speak of Ius Italiae. This is not a lenient proposal—Italian citizenship is a serious matter—but a great country must have the strength to integrate. It is not them shaping us; it is us offering them a welcome, as has been done since the Roman Empire. I say this as a man of the center-right. The center-right should not be obscurantist; it must open up to this.”
Recently, we explored the benefits of youth sports, the conditions necessary to maximize its educational potential, and the main barriers limiting access to such opportunities for children and adolescents in this article.
Source: Tuttosport 17-11-2024
