The Building Kindness in Sport Award turns 3 years old

Blowing out on candle number 3, the Building Kindness in Sport Award. The recognition enhances gestures and stories of kindness through sport.

Born from an’idea of Florentine journalist, Gaia Simonetti, in collaboration with USSI (Gruppo Giornalisti Sportivi), USSI Toscana, Ussi and Associazione Cor et Amor. Chiara Castellani, vice-president of the Cor et Amor Association, is also collaborating in the development of the Award.

The Award was inspired by the heartfelt gesture of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, now at Tottenham, who was among the first, in the spring of 2022, to host a family that had fled the war. The first presentation of the Award was made, thanks to the availability of the FIGC, at the Coverciano Technical Center.

In these three years, awards have been given to, among others, Claudio Ranieri, Federica Cappelletti, Elisabet Spina, Daniele Cassioli, Giorgio Chiellini but also collective realities such as companies’. Among them: Inter for social projects, Pisa Sporting Club (awarded for the school project ‘Light the Lighthouse that is in You’) and U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (which was recognized for its commitment to ‘A goal on all fours’ in support of the Punto & Virgola kennel and cattery), Arezzo’s Giotto Tennis Club for installing red benches in front of the courts.

The Award includes the presentation of a jersey as an investiture as an ambassador of kindness.

On the back of the jersey stands a phrase by Nelson Mandela, chosen directly by the children promoting the project, which perfectly sums up its spirit: “Sport has the power to change the world.”