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Olympic Values Initiative Brings Sports Legacy to Milan Youth Beyond Gold Medals
As Olympic athletes prepare to compete for gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a different kind of championship is underway in Milan’s churches, schools and community centers. The Tour of Sports Values, an initiative led by the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan, is connecting thousands of children with Olympic ideals through a series of innovative programs designed to emphasize that athletic achievement goes beyond elite competition.
“This is not about changing lives through elite performance,” explains Valentina Piazza, project manager for CSI for the World, an organization that provides sports programs to children in developing countries. “It’s about how sport helps young people learn from being together.”
The initiative, which runs through February 20, aims to engage approximately 13,000 young people from schools, parish youth centers and sports clubs across the archdiocese. The program is built around a framework of excellence, friendship and respect – core Olympic values that Archbishop Mario Delpini has incorporated into a series of letters serving as the program’s foundation.
On February 9, dozens of children gathered at the Church of Sant’Antonio near Milan’s Duomo for the initiative’s kickoff. Seated quietly on the church benches, they listened attentively to Giordano Bortolani, a professional basketball player who developed through the youth system of Olimpia Milano, one of Italy’s premier basketball clubs.
“Since becoming a professional athlete, I often go around talking to kids,” said Bortolani, who also participates in church-organized activities for people with disabilities. “With the Winter Olympics happening here in Milan, it’s all about Olympic values. The values of sport, and of life as well.”
Behind Bortolani hung banners showcasing graphic designs created by high school students, interpreting Olympic-inspired themes by connecting past and present through the lens of the upcoming Winter Games.
“The idea is to rethink sport not only as competition or performance, but also as a vehicle for ethical principles such as cooperation, respect, solidarity and inclusion,” explained Matilde Napoli, deputy head of the participating school.
Much of the Tour of Sports Values programming unfolds in oratories – a distinctly Italian model of parish-based recreational spaces where children gather after school for sports and activities. These community hubs, coordinated by the foundation of Milan’s oratories (FOM), serve as ideal settings to connect Olympic ideals with everyday life.
“Oratories are places where young people can come together,” said Napoli. “They offer opportunities for social interaction through sports, recreational and leisure activities.”
The archdiocese oversees nearly 1,000 oratories throughout Milan, creating an extensive network where sports and faith intersect. Massimo Aquino, president of CSI, emphasized the historical significance of these institutions: “The most beautiful thing is that, for generations, Italians have grown up learning the values of life in oratories, chasing after a ball. From this experience of sport born in oratories, many champions have emerged and grown.”
Those champions include Antonio Rossi, a celebrated canoeist and five-time Olympic medalist, and sprinter Filippo Tortu, who was part of Italy’s gold-winning 4×100-meter relay team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Bortolani’s own journey reflects this tradition. He first encountered basketball at age five in an oratory. “Church was part of it,” he recalled. “Sometimes, between training sessions, they would take us to pray.”
Though his career led him to professional basketball with Olimpia Milano, Bortolani remains connected to the community spaces that shaped him. “There is a beauty in sport itself, but sometimes a young person may be interested in hearing the point of view of an athlete,” he reflected. “That’s how it was for me when I was younger.”
As Milan prepares to welcome the world for the Winter Olympics, the Tour of Sports Values reminds the community that while Olympic podiums celebrate the world’s elite athletes, the true spirit of sport lives in everyday spaces where children learn, play and grow together – receiving their own metaphorical medals as champions in life.
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10 Comments
I’m curious how effective this program has been so far in reaching 13,000 young people across the archdiocese. Incorporating the letters from the Archbishop seems like a unique way to weave in the religious element.
Yes, it will be interesting to see the long-term outcomes of this initiative. Blending sports, community, and spiritual teachings could be a powerful way to positively shape young lives.
It’s great to see initiatives like this that go beyond just medal counts and try to instill important life lessons through sports. Developing well-rounded citizens should be a key goal.
Absolutely. Fostering values like excellence, friendship, and respect can have a profound impact on young people’s character development, even if they don’t become elite athletes.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Milan deserves credit for leveraging the excitement around the Winter Games to promote positive values. Engaging youth through sports is a smart strategy.
Interesting initiative to teach Olympic values to kids beyond just competitive sports. Connecting sports with ideals like friendship and respect is a great way to engage youth in Milan.
Agreed, using the Winter Games as a catalyst to promote broader values is a smart approach. Exposing children to these principles can have a lasting impact.
This is a great example of how the Olympic spirit can go beyond just medal achievements. Focusing on values like excellence, friendship, and respect is so important for youth development.
I’m a bit skeptical about the potential for this program to have a lasting impact on thousands of kids. Embedding Olympic ideals in a religious context could limit its reach and appeal.
That’s a fair point. Integrating the program more broadly with schools, sports clubs, and community centers may be needed to maximize its influence beyond just the church setting.