EFPM President at the Italian Fair Play Committee General Assembly
Philippe Housiaux, the President of the EFPM, visited Loreto Aprutino on 8 and 9 March and attended the General Assembly at at the municipal theatre “Luigi De Deo”, which re-elected Ruggero Alcanterini as President of the Italian National Committee for Fair Play. At the invitation of Renato Mariotti, Mayor of the city and member of the Executive Committee of the Italian National Committee for Fair Play, the 80 delegates participated in the various cultural events organised on this occasion.
During his speech, President Housiaux highlighted the dynamism of the Italian National Committee for Fair Play. He is delighted with its involvement at the European level, particularly for the Fair Play Prize for Peace.
For the EFPM President, the city of Loreto Aprutino has demonstrated in its best sense the EFPM slogan: "Fair-play spirit of sport", by declaring "While Europe is telling us to prepare for war, in this completely unprecedented situation, we can ask ourselves what is still the role of an association like ours, an association dedicated to the values of sport and fair play: is it still necessary? My answer is a strong YES, because we can never forget that sporting values are universal values: respect, friendship, dedication, relationships with others are essential every day to build our Society. And our pillars must remain education, citizenship and sport. We must remember that the world sports community is the largest, organized with two billion people; I want to imagine that together we are moving towards peace. »
My presence in Loreto Aprutino is truly meaningful to me: I ask you to continue to mobilize for the rebirth not only of sport and fair play, but above all to contribute to recreating a new era for our young people around the world. I had the incredible privilege of feeling the wonderful atmosphere of Loreto Aprutino: tranquility, openness and friendship, as if it were a happy island in our crazy world. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for this wonderful experience"
Two events were dedicated to International Women's Day. A solemn and particularly significant moment took place in homage to Ondina Valla. The inauguration of the square that will now bear her name is located in the center of the historic city. She is the first Italian woman to have won a gold medal at the Olympic Games. In Berlin, in 1936, the time of 11''6 in the 80m hurdles was worth the world record. The other event is an exhibition dedicated to women's sport composed of equipment from different eras used to compete.
The 80 Italian delegates and the EFPM delegation, guided by the mayor, had the opportunity to visit the various museums that make up the city's museum complex. Sports lovers had the opportunity to visit the International Football Museum (institutional museum of the Italian National Fair Play Committee) which hosts a permanent exhibition including the display of all the original models of balls and shoes used by the Italian national football team from its birth to the present day. Visitors discovered the Museo Acerbo delle ceramiche storiche di Castelli, the Museo dell’olio (castelletto Amorotti), the Museo di archeologia (antiquarium comunale) and the Museo del cinema (il cinema prima del cinema).
09.03.2025
