The Future of Sport in Lazio: towards new rules and cooperations
Regulatory developments, growth of the tourism and conference industry, accessibility of facilities, and cooperation with local authorities were the topics discussed during the panel featuring the Lazio Region and Sport e Salute, both institutional partners of the seventh edition of the SFS.
Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region; Elena Palazzo, Regional Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Sustainability; and Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sport e Salute, engaged in discussions on pressing current issues. The panel was moderated by Marco Lollobrigida, Deputy Director of Rai Sport.
The Unified Sports Law of the Lazio Region dates back 20 years, and the institutional goal is to reformulate it to align with the needs of modern society. The aim is to actively intervene, shifting from sports ethics to territorial ethics, inspired by the “virtuous model” of Caivano introduced just a few months ago. “The constitutional evolution of Article 33,” said Mezzaroma, “was a watershed moment. Sport is not just an economic sector; it is a social vehicle capable of driving change. The shared goal remains to synergize with local authorities, both to update the sports regulatory plan and to gain a clear picture of the current state of affairs“.
Councillor Palazzo emphasized the internationalization of the SFS brand as a valuable platform to showcase initiatives undertaken in recent months. For example, during the European Championships in June, a protocol was signed with the FIGC, making the Lazio Region the sole liaison in Germany at Casa Azzurri. Under the slogan “Lazio, train yourself to beauty,” the agreement aimed to promote tourism through the Italian national team’s jersey. The initiative highlighted the region’s assets, with some players serving as ambassadors. Additionally, the Councillor noted that the Unified Law is the result of 18 months of collaboration and dialogue with key local stakeholders. Among the most interesting proposals is the introduction of vouchers to ensure everyone has the right to access sports.
“We must strive to train and educate in beauty, leveraging the region’s appeal. We must never stop fostering dialogue, being present, and listening to everyone’s needs. Lazio must lead the way in tackling delicate environmental issues—such as childhood obesity—through sports,” said Rocca. “It is above all a cultural challenge”. This is, therefore, a social operation aimed at urbanizing sports to address the needs of economically disadvantaged or underrepresented groups. It is a bet on investing in future generations and schools through co-financing programs involving local and regional entities.
The SFS organization is proud to have hosted this panel.
