Milano-Cortina Foundation, students engaged in Piazza di Siena with the school-work programme

ROME — Like thousands of athletes around the world, they too dream of taking part in Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. They are eleven students of the Calamandrei Institute in Rome who, thanks to the Eudcation program GEN26 wanted by the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation, followed the organization and promotion of Siena square, show jumping equestrian competition scheduled from 25 to 28 May at Villa Borghese. They were able to see live how a secretariat and a marketing team work, perceive the ferment in the press room and the hospitality area. A training experience, included in the courses for transversal skills and for the orientation of school-work alternation. With the aim of living a similar adventure in three years’ time, when Italy will host the Games at home.

Aspirations, curiosities, desires, lessons. Everything mixes in the bustle of Piazza di Siena. “We have been chosen to be part of this event – he says Edward Colloriti, 16 years old – and we assist all sectors, even horse stables. When I grow up I would like to be a journalist, I really liked the aspect of communication. Piazza di Siena is a great opportunity, I met it this year and I understood the importance of this event for Italy”. Angie Paola Barrero Bello, 19 years old, Roman of Colombian origins, thanks to the experience of Piazza di Siena she understood what she wants to be when she grows up. “Through this program I have already participated in the Color Run and I agreed to take part in Piazza di Siena too because I found it very good. There are many people from different fields and we can learn a lot from them. I saw with my own eyes how work, it was very useful. I admit it, I fell in love with the organizational part of a major international sporting event like this”.

For Giovanni Malagò, president of Coni and of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation, Eucation GEN 26 and Piazza di Siena are for male and female students “the opportunity to acquire new skills through direct experience in the field. Sport is a sector where there are many opportunities professionals who are emerging and require preparation, ability and enthusiasm. I am particularly proud that all of this passes through Milano Cortina 2026”. Second Diana Bianchidi, Chief of Strategic Planning and Legacy of Milano Cortina 2026, the Program “was developed with the aim of fostering the connection between local event organizing committees, sports federations and local schools, in order to create a lasting bond between young people and the world of sporting events”. The landlord, the president of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, was also happy Mark DiPaola: “We are delighted to be the first Federation to have signed this important agreement with the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation: we believe that young enthusiasts are the best future professionals for the sports sector”.