Tragedy in wheelchair basketball: Man Dies at Age 60 After Collapsing in a Parking Lot

An evening of sports turned into a tragedy at the PalaCalafiore in Reggio Calabria. Giuseppe Scandolaro, 60, a longtime executive with Padova Millennium Basket, died after suffering a sudden illness in the parking lot shortly before the start of the Serie A wheelchair basketball game between the Venetian team and Vumbaca Reggio Bic. Rescue efforts and his subsequent transport to the hospital were in vain: there was nothing that could be done to save him.

Scandolaro was a legendary figure at the Padua-based club, to which he had dedicated some thirty years of his life. He carried out this commitment with passion and dedication, becoming a point of reference for athletes, coaches, managers, and the entire wheelchair basketball community. His passing has left not only Padova Millennium in shock, but also the Reggio sports community, which suddenly found itself facing a tragedy on the very eve of a competitive event.

He collapsed in the plaza outside the sports arena, just before tip-off. Those present immediately sprang into action to provide assistance while emergency services were alerted. Scandolaro was then taken by ambulance to the hospital, but his condition proved to be critical. The game between Reggio Calabria and Padova was not played. In light of what had happened, the two clubs decided to call off the match. It was an inevitable decision, as at that moment the game’s outcome and the competition itself had completely taken a back seat.

Vumbaca Reggio Bic also announced the news, expressing its condolences through a message of solidarity with the Veneto-based club and the executive’s family. A heartfelt embrace goes out to all those who have shared a journey—both in sports and in life—with him over the years.