It is called “Territorial Stations” and is the project promoted by the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group which has chosen Sport and Health to bring services, projects and initiatives for the development of sport within the abandoned or no longer used railway spaces which will be of redevelopment.
The project, which is aimed at municipalities with fewer than 15 thousand inhabitants, has the objective of transforming railway stations into multifunctional centers serving the public, including those relating to projects and opportunities serving sport.
These will be guaranteed by Sport and Health with which Ferrovie dello Stato has signed a memorandum of understanding.
“Italy has an important fabric represented by our Municipalities – said the CEO of the FS group, Luigi Ferraris during the presentation of the project -. Ferrovie dello Stato has 2,200 operational stations, of which 200 in municipalities with under 15 thousand inhabitants. We have a social responsibility that small municipalities are not depopulated and that they remain alive. With the support of the Government and local authorities, we are convinced that this initiative can lead to a rebirth of these small towns.”
The memorandum of understanding signed by Ferrovie dello Stato and Sport e Salute will allow the launch of initiatives and projects in the field of sport and social activities, to be carried out in railway spaces no longer used or in abandoned areas owned by the companies of the FS group, and which they will aim to promote and spread the practice of sport and the importance of physical activity for psychophysical well-being, as well as the role of sport as a vehicle for promoting correct lifestyles and social inclusion.
“We sign this protocol with particular enthusiasm not only because it links two important realities of the country system but above all because it allows us to give back to citizens, also through sport, abandoned or unused places and spaces and to spread our message linked to the importance of the activity physics throughout the national territory” explained the CEO of Sport and Health, Diego Nepi Molineris upon signing which took place together with Massimo Bruno, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of the FS Italiane Group. “Let’s imagine redeveloped railway spaces – added Nepi Molineris – is as a moment of direct contact with the basic sports fabric, to offer them services and development opportunities, and as sports places open to all age groups, where that social contract between young and old is signed, in the name of activity physical, inclusion, aggregation and well-being”.
In the photo: from left Massimo Bruno, Chief Corporate Affairs Officers FS Italiane, and Diego Nepi Molineris, CEO of Sport e Salute SpA