When you hear CUS Bologna you immediately think of college sports. But the fact is that CUS Bologna—which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this season and is one of the very first of its kind in Italy—rightly focuses on younger people as well.
In fact, CUSB has launched “In Gioco per Crescere”, a local initiative developed as part of the national “GenerAZIONI_CUS” project, promoted by FederCUSI and funded by Sport e Salute.
The university’s sports division has thus brought inclusive sports to secondary schools in the city of the Two Towers.
But what exactly does the project entail?
This is a sports and educational program designed to combat the decline in physical activity among adolescents and promote inclusion. The CUSB initiative, aimed at students aged 13 to 18, began last October and concluded in March, involving nearly 500 students from 24 classes at four schools in Bologna.
The project was born out of a desire to address a real need: too many young people give up sports during adolescence, especially those living in socially vulnerable situations, or those with mild disabilities or social difficulties.
The “In Gioco per Crescere” initiative aims to reverse this trend by introducing young people to physical activity in an accessible, inclusive, and engaging way, right within the school setting.
The CUSB project was structured around two complementary initiatives. The activities offered to the young people included sports and mentoring, designed to help them grow together.
Let’s start with the first one: sports classes in schools. Each class participated in three free sessions during school hours, led by qualified instructors. The sports offered ranged from indoor hockey to flying disc. The activities were designed and structured to be accessible to everyone, encouraging collaboration among students—from learning basic techniques to simulating a real game.
The second activity? Mentoring with a champion. The students met with an athlete from CUS Bologna for an experiential talk on the values of sports. Through an interactive dialogue, they discussed topics such as motivation, mental and physical well-being, inclusion, and overcoming the obstacles that often lead people to give up sports.
The results? Concrete goals were achieved: stimulating interest in various sports, strengthening motivation to engage in physical activity, and developing transferable skills such as socialization, emotional management, and mutual respect.
The results were then monitored through observations by staff members, feedback from teachers, and the Sport e Salute platform. The project was carried out with the support of a team consisting of a project coordinator, 15 instructors, and a mentor, ensuring a professional and personalized approach for each participating school.
“In Gioco per Crescere” is not an isolated initiative but is part of a broader, structured, and well-established program. Projects promoted nationally through University Sports Centers, such as “GenerAZIONI_CUS,” are in fact part of a strategy launched several years ago, in which CUS Bologna has participated consistently, contributing to the development of projects dedicated to inclusion.
This is a commitment that is renewed year after year, giving rise to initiatives aimed at various target groups: people with disabilities, educational institutions, young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and youth at risk of dropping out of sports.
In other words, not a single project, but an ongoing initiative that uses sports as a tool for bringing people together, promoting social inclusion, breaking down barriers, and celebrating diversity.
This initiative is part of the “CUSI Sport Inclusivo” overarching project, which brings together and promotes activities carried out throughout Italy, thanks to the support of FederCUSI, which allocates specific resources each year to the development of CUS projects. In this context, “In Gioco per Crescere” stands as a further expression of a long-standing commitment, demonstrating how sport, when made accessible and inclusive, can become a true driver of personal and social growth.
Press Office - CUS Bologna ASD
