TURIN. Once again, major sporting events are among the victims of Covid. Because if on the one hand they remain authorized in compliance with the quotas and ministerial regulations, on the other hand, compliance with them and the safety procedures increase the costs that fall on the shoulders of the organizers. In a world, the amateur sports one, which already suffers a lot in itself.
A situation that risks having repercussions also on Piedmont, which last November received the beautiful label of “European Capital Region of Sport 2022 from Aces, the Federation of European Capitals and Cities of Sport which operates in collaboration with the European Parliament ”On a box to be filled with important events. “We are the first Italian Region to bear this title”, the words of the President of the Piedmont Region Alberto Cirio in the aftermath of the investiture. During the week, the councilor for sport Fabrizio Ricca will meet the federations to define, also in light of the aspects related to Covid, the events of the calendar headed by the second edition of the ATP Finals, at the end of 2022, but at the moment compromised by the opening one, the Foil Grand Prix that would inaugurate the year in February.
«Since 2009 it has always been the first major international event in Turin, as well as the first Grand Prix in the world – declares Michele Torella, president of the organizing company Accademia Scherma Marchesa -. Now we are instead forced to postpone the tender, because the new ministerial decree does not provide for Green Pass on molecular swab but only on vaccines recognized by Italy or on recovery from Covid. The race involves over 350 athletes from all over the world every year and many would be excluded. The Piedmont Region would have taken on the costs due to the organization of the entire structure necessary to guarantee health safety, which is onerous because it affects every organizational aspect of the event, but the latest decree, valid at least until 31 March , requires us to cancel or postpone it ».
Together with the Italian and international federation, we are thinking of another date and another venue: “At the end of May or early June, perhaps after the Book Fair at the Lingotto, because the Pala Alpitour that has hosted us so far will be busy with the Eurovision Song Contest “. The will to do so is strong: “And to think that in 2020 it was the last international event before the lockdown for the start of the pandemic: it is impossible to forget the arrival in Turin of the Chinese athletes who, to circumvent the closure of direct flights from China, were stopover in Dubai. And it was just the beginning of it all. ” And all this while in other states the rules for athletes are different. In Qatar, in order to participate, a molecular swab is required upon arrival and a quarantine. In other words, a single and shared regulatory framework is missing.
Meanwhile, the Winter Meeting linked to the Twirling World Championships scheduled at PalaRuffini from 4 to 7 August, again within the European Capital Region of Sport, was also postponed: “The meeting of 26 January with the world delegation of the international federation for the inspection at the competition field, training gyms and reception facilities has been canceled – says Fitw president Gianfranco Porqueddu -, we will work online. August is far away, but at this rate all that remains is to hope for the best ». –
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