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Il gioco può superare i limiti imposti e cancellarli, difendendo il principio uguaglianza fino a rendersi un diritto inalienabile.
E’ così che in questo momento storico in cui la figura del rifugiato, del migrante forzato che diventa straniero nel raggiungere una Terra lontana da quella natìa, cerca di emergere dall’indifferenza che è proprio lo sport a dare dei segnali nel riconoscere e restituire una dignità che non conosce nazionalità.
L’importanza del disegno di legge è chiaro dalle parole di una deputata che ha vissuto l’attività agonistica in prima persona, Valentina Vezzali, l’atleta italiana più medagliata di tutti i tempi: <<Attesta ancora una volta come lo sport possa essere un eccezionale strumento di integrazione sociale. L’approvazione del Ddl rafforza il convincimento del valore dello sport e dell’attività sportiva quale elemento fondante l’essere società civile che si apre all’altro ed abbatte frontiere e barriere mentali>>.
Nel mondo – Il presidente del COI, Comitato Olimpico Internazionale, Thomas Bach ha annunciato la decisione di aprire le prossime Olimpiadi estive ai profughi come messaggio di speranza e per rendere il mondo consapevole della gravità di una crisi mondiale che interessa 60 milioni di persone. Finora i rifugiati non erano ammessi in quanto non rappresentanti di nessun Paese; <<Non avendo un team nazionale a cui appartenere, nessuna bandiera dietro al quale marciare, nessun inno nazionale che viene suonato alla vittoria, questi atleti saranno benvenuti ai Giochi dietro la bandiera olimpica e con l’inno olimpico>> ha dichiarato Bach, che aggiunge <<Tutte le persone sono uguali a prescindere da razza, sesso, status sociale, cultura, religione. Le Olimpiadi sono l’apice di questa visione e del principio della non discriminazione>>.
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Whoever lives sport either as a participant or a spectator is used to rooting for a team colour or following a flag. But the beauty of sport that it is simultaneously both this and its opposite.
Sport can overcome imposed limits and eliminate them, defending the principle of equality until it becomes an inalienable right.
And so, in this historic moment when the figure of the refugee, of the forced migrant who becomes a foreigner when reaching a land so far from his/her birthplace, is trying to emerge from indifference, it is sport that is giving a strong signal in recognising and giving back a dignity that is without nationality.
In Italy, the Senate has approved with almost unanimity a Bill to introduce Sporting Ius Soli¹, a measure that from today allows sports clubs to enrol, from the age of 10, foreign minors who are resident in Italy.
The importance of this law is clear in the words of a Member of Parliament who has experienced competitive activity personally, Valentina Vezzali, the most decorated Italian athlete of all time: “This is further confirmation of how sport can be an exceptional instrument of social integration. The approval of the Bill underlines the importance of sport and of sporting activity as a cornerstone of a civilised society which is open to others and which breaks down frontiers and mental barriers.”
Elsewhere, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has announced that the next summer Olympics will be open to refugees as a sign of hope and to make the world aware of a global crisis which affects 60 million people.
Until now, refugees have not been admitted as they did not represent a country. “Having no national team to be part of, having no flag to march behind, no anthem to sing in victory, these athletes will be welcome at the Games behind the Olympic flag and with the Olympic anthem,” Bach said. He added: “Everybody is equal, regardless of their race, sex, social status, culture or religion. The Olympics are the apex of this vision and of the principle of non-discrimination.”
These are words in which we recognise ourselves and which fill us with hope. With the wish that this is merely the beginning.
¹Footnote: Ius soli means ‘right of the soil’. It is the right of anyone born in the territory of a state to nationality or citizenship. Italian law is based on the principle of Ius sanguinis, with citizenship acquired through bloodlines rather than birth. At present, non-citizens born in Italy can apply for citizenship at the age of 18 if they have lived in the country continuously all their life. There are proposals for a new law (beyond just sport) under which children born to foreign parents can become citizens earlier and more easily if at least one parent has a long-term residency permit.
[English translation by Frank Dunne]
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