There are stories that only sport, with its thousand aspects, is able to tell. One of these concerns Bologna which, today and tomorrow, will be the capital of baseball for the blind. It couldn’t have gone any other way: the first European Championship for five nations, with the blessing of Fibs (the baseball federation), could only take place in the facility dedicated to Umberto Calzolari in Casteldebole. Because if Alfredo Meli, in the nineties, was the inventor of baseball for the blind, Calzolari, known as the Professor for the mastery with which he pitched, was the field man, capable of combining everything and bringing about a new and inclusive. Inclusive because in addition to the blind, there are also so-called able-bodied people on the pitch who can better guide those who cannot see and, in defence, are attracted by the sound of the ball which, inside, is equipped with a pair of rattles.
Fantastic and futuristic stories, because the dream of Alberto Mazzanti, president of the Aibxc (Italian baseball association for the blind) and of Stefano Malaguti, Aibxc councilor and president of the Lega Baseball Ciechi (Lbci) is to ‘invade’ the other continents and bring thus baseball (for the blind) in the Paralympic program.
Real stories with happy endings, like that of Giorgio Napoli, born in Campania and adopted in Bologna. The third baseman of the national team is 40 years old, he is Italian champion with Fortitudo Baseball and, to his discipline, he also owes the match that changed his life.
He met Desirée in the field, Giorgio. Today Desirée is his wife and the couple has two children, Edoardo and Emma.
“I came to Bologna – says Giorgio – because, with retinitis pigmentosa, my field of vision narrowed. My life changed: I went to Cavazza to follow a professional course and, there, I was asked to play baseball “.
The year was 2017: today Giorgio is one of the best Italian players. “I work as a switchboard operator in the Prosecutor’s Office – he says with the smile of someone who is truly happy –. Baseball is pure fun, but never forget that we are athletes. Then, thanks to baseball, a world has opened up to me: I have friends that I bring with me behind me since childhood. But thanks to this sport I was able to share my problems with other people. For me baseball is integration, relationships and union. And wearing the blue jersey is a great honor.”
Giorgio, like his companions, not only earns nothing (except the emotion of a success or applause), but often has to put in some money. There are emotions, however, that are priceless and sacrifices are willingly made.
To win the first European Championship (counsellor Roberta Li Calzi will also be there), Italy will have to beat Spain, Germany, Holland and France. “First step towards greater internationalization of our sport”, says Mazzanti. Councilor Li Calzi nods. If it is true that unity is strength, then the dream of the Paralympics is not that far away.
It starts at 9, in Casteldebole, with France-Germany, at 11.30 Italy-France. Tomorrow at 12.45pm the final and, at 2.15pm, the closing.
2023-10-07 04:03:48
#Games #love #inclusion #baseball #blind #Bologna #capital
