The Councilor for Sport of the Calabria Region, Eulalia Micheli, participated in the event “Beyond the sea. The assets for the continuity of the tourist offer”, organized by the Magna Grecia Foundation, in Scilla, during which she highlighted the value of the sea, not only as a landscape but as a living heritage of the territory: a cultural, economic, identity and naturally sporting resource.
“Scilla – declared councilor Micheli in his speech – is one of those places where the sea tells ancient stories, but at the same time offers concrete opportunities to build new development prospects. When we talk about continuity of the tourist offer and deseasonalisation, we are talking about the ability of a territory to live all year round. In this path sport has a fundamental role”.
Sport and territory: from the mountains to the sea
The councilor also recalled the variety of sporting activities that can be practiced in Calabria: rafting and canyoning in the Pollino, trekking and mountain biking in Sila and Aspromonte, skiing with a sea view, sailing, scuba diving, kitesurfing and windsurfing: “Calabria is a unique region, where it is possible to go from snow-capped peaks to sunny beaches in a short time. Sport is an extraordinary tool for attracting visitors, generating the economy and promoting well-being, inclusion and participation”.
He then spoke of nautical sports and sailing “as examples of disciplines that combine technique, respect for the environment and teamwork. Promoting sailing – he said – means offering more sustainable and more experiential tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the sea as protagonists”.
Regional support and major international events
“As a Region we are committed to supporting sports associations, federations, nautical clubs and tourist operators to build an integrated offer that enhances the territory throughout the year. Our objective is to make sport one of the engines of tourism growth, involving young people, associations and local communities. This is also why I welcome with great satisfaction the announcement of the Italian Volleyball Federation which has announced that, in August, Reggio Calabria will host the Italian men’s national team, world champion.
The Azzurri will arrive on the shores of the Strait on Sunday 23 August and will carry out several training sessions, accompanied by institutional appointments, before taking to the field on 26 August at PalaCalafiore for the test match against the Cuban national team.
“Hosting the Italian national volleyball team – finally remarked Councilor Micheli – is an event of great importance. It means celebrating excellent sport and promoting Calabria as an attractive destination capable of combining tourism, culture and high-level sporting activities”.