January 5
POBIC on two fronts: excellence in sports integration in Mantua and health mission in Nigeria
POBIC on Two Fronts: Excellence in Sports Inclusion in Mantua and a Healthcare Mission in Nigeria Organizing a top-tier sporting event to promote inclusion while simultaneously launching a life-saving healthcare project in Africa. POBIC demonstrates that its commitment to inclusion knows no boundaries and allows for no half-measures. An extraordinary event that sets an example On Sunday, December 18, Mantua’s swimming pools hosted the third edition of an event that has become a benchmark for inclusive sports in the region: the Inclusive Water Polo and Swimming Trophy organized by US Acli. The event brought together the region’s top sports teams—Andes H, Virgiliana Mantova, and Pallanuoto Verona—for a day that successfully combined competition, inclusion, and fair play. But it was more than just a sports event. The event served as a true model of how sports can break down barriers and build communities. The two water polo teams from Polisportiva Andes H competed alongside athletes from Virgiliana Mantova in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and participation that engaged not only the athletes but also the many spectators in attendance. The day saw the participation of prominent figures from the worlds of sports and government: Presidents A and B of US Acli; the leadership of Polisportiva Andes H, with captain Andrea Barbi on defense and Elena Scartezzini and Jenny Schwanius on offense; and top-level swimming coaches such as Marley Bianchi. Also present were Davide Norea, Diego Corradi, Alberto Cotti, and Viola Pilati from Virgiliana, offering a concrete demonstration of how integration in sports is possible when there is commitment, expertise, and passion. POBIC’s Role in the Organization Elena Nolli, of the POBIC Foundation, played a crucial role in coordinating the event. Together with figures such as Stefano Pilati and Umberto Nolli, Elena helped make possible an event that saw the participation of over 20 young people from Virgiliana Mantova and swimmers from Tazio in Bagnolo San Vito. The awards ceremony recognized all the key participants: Davide Sarassi, winner of the swimming events; Andrea Barbi; Stefano Pilati; Viola Pilati; Osama Bassiouni; and Claudio Zigorani. A rising star, Marta Bonetti, stood out on the Open H team. Otto Bio of Tazio di Bagnolo San Vito claimed the title in the running race. POBIC was not merely a sponsor. The organization, through Giancarlo Nolli (head of international solidarity projects) and his daughter Elena (a member of the coordinating committee), invested energy, expertise, and resources to make this event a success. An event that cemented the friendship between various members of the Mantua and Verona sports communities, creating a model for integration through sports that has already set the goal of being replicated with enthusiasm and discipline next year as well. At the same time, thousands of kilometers away… And just as Mantua was celebrating this extraordinary day of inclusive sports, POBIC was carrying out another chapter of its mission: the international one. A few weeks before the Mantua event, representatives of the foundation were in Lagos, Nigeria, to launch a partnership destined to change the lives of hundreds of children. The meeting with the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria marks the beginning of an ambitious project rooted in POBIC’s established expertise in Africa. For while in Mantua, inclusion takes place in the lanes of the pool and through the excitement of the races, in Nigeria, inclusion means something even more urgent: access to life-saving care. In Nigeria, one case of Down syndrome is recorded for every 865 live births. Many of these children are born with congenital heart defects that require immediate surgery. The problem is dire: heart surgery can cost over 10 million naira, a sum that is completely out of reach for the vast majority of Nigerian families. Without that surgery, many of these children will not survive. Nike Denis, national director of the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria, highlighted the country’s two main challenges: stigmatization and exclusion from the healthcare system. Many parents hide their children with Down syndrome for fear of discrimination, while the local healthcare system lacks the resources to provide the necessary care. Read the full article here. POBIC’s Experience That Makes a Difference POBIC is no newcomer to Nigeria. The foundation has been operating in the country since 2015, when it conducted its first training sessions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation for doctors at the Federal Medical Center in Yenagoa. Over the years, through its “Open Heart” projects, POBIC has facilitated surgical procedures for Nigerian children at leading Italian hospitals such as the Gaslini in Genoa, building a network of medical expertise and international relationships that today represents a valuable asset. The collaboration with the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria is the natural evolution of this decade-long commitment. POBIC brings its cardiac surgery expertise and established healthcare networks to the field, integrating them with the Nigerian foundation’s in-depth knowledge of the local context. The goal is to dramatically improve access to specialized medical care for people with Down syndrome in Nigeria, with a particular focus on cardiac emergencies. According to experts, life expectancy for people with Down syndrome in Africa is beginning to rise thanks to advances in access to healthcare. But there is still a long way to go. Priorities include early diagnosis, timely treatment, inclusive education, and awareness programs that change cultural perceptions of disability. Two Projects, One Vision Organizing a premier sporting event like the Mantua Trophy and launching a life-saving healthcare project in Nigeria may seem like two separate missions. In reality, they are two sides of the same coin: POBIC’s total commitment to the integration and inclusion of people with disabilities. In Mantua, POBIC works to build a culture of inclusive sports that serves as a model and inspiration for other communities. An event that is not just a festival and celebration, but a means of building networks, skills, and, above all, community. It is an investment in the future of young athletes who, together, learn that differences are a source of richness and that sports belong to everyone.
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