Sport

SPORT AND SPORT TRADITIONS The Palio of Siena „X Palio: from the Latin ¡§palium¡¨: a rectangular piece of cloth. In the Middle Ages a palium was a symbol of a triumph. „X 1238: 1st documentary allusion to the Palio „X Closing of the Festivities designed to celebrate the anniversary of a Saint Other Mediaeval Traditions (Tuscany and Middle Italy) „X Elmora (wooden swords and lances) „X Battaglia de¡¦ sassi „X Pugna „X Pallone (historical football) „X Bufalate (races on buffalo-back) The palio was run on: „X Religious associations: Mar 30th Blessed Ambrogio Jul 22nd St Mary Magdalene Aug 15th The Assumption (survived till today) Nov 26th San Pietro Alessandrino „X Special events Gradual changeover from ¡§Palio alla Lunga¡¨ (Long Palio) to ¡§Palio alla Tonda¡¨ (Round Palio, run in P.za del Campo), 1st in P.za del Campo, 1583, regularly from 1656. Contrada „X There used to be 42 contrade in Siena. Since 1729 there are 17. „X Tha names of the contrade refer to animals, both real and mythological. The symbols of each contrada were borrowed from other parts of Italy (ex. Lupa-Rome, panther-Lucca) Each contrada has: „X A seat government „X Church „X Museum „X Hymn „X Patron Saint The Florentine Football „X Ancestors: Sferomachia, Harpastum „X Was introduced by the Romans (Calcio in Livrea) „X It¡¦ something between fight, rugby and football It was played: „X Carnival „X Recurrences/Anniversaries „X Special Events Some historical games: „X 1491: on the iced Arno „X 1521: in the courtyard of the Vatican „X 1530: during the siege of Florence „X 1575: in Lione, Enrico III Where it was played: „X P.za Santo Spirito „X P.za Santa Maria Novella „X P.za Santa Croce And wherever there was enough space Rules: „X Two teams of 27 players each (4 gollies, 8 defenders, 15 forwards) „X The aim of the game is to score more ¡§Caccias¡¨ than the rival team CONTEMPORARY SPORT ƒÞ Anomaly even in the sporting arena ƒÞ The management of sport ¡V independent body (CONI) ƒÞ Essential aspect of the Italian society since the age of the Romans ƒÞ 4 daily newspapers + all the qualities newspapers¡¦ sport section ƒÞ CALCIO SPORT AND POLITICS ƒÞ Strong ties with the world of politics: since fascism sport has been part of a communication strategy: ƒÞ SOCIAL CONTROL (panem et circenses) ƒÞ PROPAGANDA (34¡¦-38¡¦-82¡¦) SPORT AND FASCISM 1934 -1938: Italian victories in the Soccer World Cup were Fascist Victories, triumphs with the face of the Duce SPORT AND FASCISM The fascist athlete: ƒÞ Youth ƒÞ Fearlessness ƒÞ Character ƒÞ Dynamism GIRO D¡¦ITALIA: the most popular sport in Italy until the beginning of the 50¡¦s ƒÞ COPPI ƒÞ Communist support ƒÞ Libertine ƒÞ BARTALI ƒÞ Moral athlete ƒÞ Exemplary catholic ƒÞ Perfect Christian athlete; launched appeals to vote for the Cross against the Red Peril (God¡¦s cyclist) In the immediate post-war years¡K ƒÞ International successes at the Tour de France were redeeming the image of the country after WWII ƒÞ BARTALI¡¦s success at the TOUR THE FRANCE of 1948 ¡§avoids¡¨ another civil war¡K ROME 1960 ƒÞ Re-admission of Italy in the international community (1955) ƒÞ 1) URSS 2) USA 3) ITALY ƒÞ Begins a new era for the Italian sport: sport and its rituals became the new status symbol for the avarage Italian: heroes, sailors, saints, and sport enthusiasts. The Italian collective identity emerges mainly through sport successes. SPORT AND POLITICS: ƒÞ Some Italian politicians (and business men) have used sport as a mean of gain popularity and consensus: De Michelis (min of foreign affairs + president of the basketball league); Scotti (min DCI, president of the league of cycling); Carraro (DCI, president of CONI), Cecchi-Gori, Agnelli, Moratti, ecc.. SOCCER SUPPORTERS DIVIDE ƒÞ LEFT: ƒÞ Torino ƒÞ Milan ƒÞ Roma ƒÞ Genoa ƒÞ Fiorentina ƒÞ Livorno ƒÞ Perugina ƒÞ RIGHT: ƒÞ Juventus ƒÞ Inter Milan ƒÞ Lazio ƒÞ Sampdoria ƒÞ Verona Supporters use a political terminology to name their groups: Collettivo, Red or Black Brigades, political symbols (star and svastica, ecc) 1982: Italy wins the Soccer World Cup SPORT AND POLITICS TODAY: BERLUSCONI ƒÞ AC Milan ƒÞ Forza Italia ƒÞ Azzurri (the azzurro of the national team one of the strongest symbols of the national identity) ƒÞ Sport today is so popular that is part of the language of the politicians ƒÞ 1996: PRODI-VELTRONI: European soccer league, they have exploited the national team against the separatism of the Northern League + pedal hard against the optimism of Berlusconi NAPLES AND AC MILAN: THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE EMERGES IN SOCCER End of the 80¡¦s ¡V beginning of the 90¡¦s AC Milan and Naples compete for the national league championship: Naples won the league in 1987 and 1990 (the controversial figure of Maradona) Ac Milan has been the most successful team in Europe from the 90¡¦s till today. TODAY ƒÞ The sport hero a TV personality ƒÞ Increase of the number of people regularly engaged in sports ƒÞ 80¡¦-90¡¦ - health mania, fitness, cult of the body + spread of Californian sports ƒÞ Health, beauty, well-being and physical efficiency- values in contemporary Italian society 2006: Italy wins the Soccer World Cup and believe me the party is crazy