The Provincial Badminton Federation of Milano issued a press release that puts the spotlight back on the difficult situation of VIA CIMAWAEa municipal sports facility of absolute excellence but today severely limited in its full operation.
PalaBadminton, the story
The story has its roots inflood of July 27, 2023which caused serious damage in several areas of the city. Among the buildings affected is also the PalaBadminton, located next to the XXV Aprile athletics field, recently at the center of public debate. On that occasion the structure suffered significant damage, in particular to the thermal power plant et al roof.
PalaBadminton, the question and answer
Despite numerous email exchanges between the Italian Badminton Federation (FIBa) and the Municipality of Milan, and an official meeting held in November 2024 at the Sports Office with councilor Riva, FIBa president Dr. Carlo Beninati and the general secretary Dr. Giovanni Esposito, the situation has remained substantially unchanged. The objective of the meeting was to clarify the process for the opening and settlement of the insurance claim, but to date there have been no concrete steps forward.
What cost is the PalaBadminton
The PalaBadminton is not just any structure: it hosts the Federal Technical Centerwhere he trains Italian national badminton teamincluding female and Olympic-level athletes such as Giovanni Toti and Rosa Di Marcoprotagonists at the Paris 2024 Games. Furthermore, in the evening hours, the facility is used by sports clubs and private individuals.
The history of PalaBadminton
Built in 2009 by the Italian Badminton Federation through the redevelopment of a now dilapidated former municipal bowling club, the arena is the only one in Italy designed specifically for badminton: technical parquet to reduce post-jump impact, underfloor heating that avoids annoying air currents and a lighting system designed not to interfere with the playing fields.
FIBa, anticipating its own resources, has already provided for the replacement of the boiler roomwith a cost of approximately 50.000 euro. The renovation of the roof, however, was never started due to the high costs and in the hope of an insurance reimbursement at least for the work already undertaken. The refund, however, never arrived.
For almost three years, when it rains, twelve places on the playing fields floodmaking it impossible to carry out activities safely. For this reason they were suspended all sporting events at provincial, regional, national and international levels.
The consequences are serious: on the one hand the increase in costs for the Federation, forced to move the national team and the technical staff to other locations in Italy and abroad; on the other one economic damage for the city of Milanwhich loses the revenue generated by international competitions capable of attracting athletes from all over the world.
Palabadminton, the bureaucratic case
In the meantime, the answers from the Municipality of Milan regarding the insurance practice remain vague or absent: there is talk of a “waiting list”, of “other priorities”, of an overall settlement without a certain date. At the end of January 2026, the situation is still blocked.
In December 2025, FIBa’s lawyer contacted Generali Insurance, holder of the federal policy. The answer was clear: to proceed with the liquidation, a release by the Municipality of Milana document requested by the Federation over a year ago and never released.
The result is a paradox that has lasted for years: a structure owned by the municipality, given in concession to the Federation, but in fact unusable in its full potential. A firm sporting excellence, trapped in a bureaucratic labyrinth that penalizes athletes, the federation and the entire city.
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