From Wednesday, September 3 to Friday, September 5 (Via Galvani, near Circolo Puppino) a new initiative promoted by a group of friends, in collaboration with ABC basket and Prociv Arci.
Some thought about the teams and others about advertising. Some designed the logo and others worked on finding sponsors or perhaps on social media communication. This is how a group of friends came up with the idea for a new youth basketball tournament, renamed “HoopsxCastello – when Castello becomes a playground,” which will take place every evening from Wednesday, September 3 to Friday, September 5 on the court in Via Galvani, near the Circolo “Puppino.”
The initiative, organized in collaboration with ABC Basket and Prociv Arci and sponsored by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, is an opportunity open to all young people who want to spend their evenings in a healthy way, enjoying sports, games, and socializing through activities created and managed by themselves. This allows young people to feel like active participants and protagonists, not just spectators, in initiatives that interest them.
The “HoopXCastello” tournament involves teams of three to five players, divided into two categories: Junior (born between 2012 and 2016, from 6.30pm to 9pm) and Senior (born up to 2011, from 9pm to 11.30pm). The structure of the tournament is determined based on the number of teams registered, with a formula that will ensure the smooth running of the games and the widest possible participation.
The Circolo “Puppino,” which contributed to the organization of the tournament, will be open every evening as a refreshment and logistical support point.
The promoters of the event are Edoardo Barlabà, Samuele Cipollini, Dario Burgassi, Damiano Valloreia, and Tommaso Niccolini (others joined later), for whom the tournament “was created with a simple but important goal: to offer young people an opportunity to get together, have fun, and grow through sport, in the spirit of respect and civic participation. It was a real challenge for us: we only started organizing in July and in a very short time, with a lot of passion and collaboration, we managed to turn an idea into reality. We are convinced that young people are the heart of our community, and it is to them that we want to dedicate this initiative. We have done our best, trying to lay the foundations for the future of this tournament. We would like to thank the associations participating with us in the organization, our sponsors, and all those who are helping us to make this event happen.”
Marco Cappellini (Prociv Arci) and Bruno Gazzarrini (ABC Basket) are also enthusiastic: “A sporting event for the young people of Castello, but even more than that, a moment to get together, spend time together, and develop new ideas for the young people of our town. As associations, we have provided them with the help they requested, but always leaving them free to carry out their project on their own.”
“We are delighted with this initiative,” said Fabio Tinti, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for sport, “not only because it promotes a sport that has a long tradition in Castelfiorentino, as evidenced by the wide range of facilities and equipment available in our area, but above all because it is an event conceived and promoted by the young people of Castelfiorentino, an opportunity to get to know each other, socialize, and make new friends. In short, it is a healthy way to meet and spend your free time.”
The promoters—who then involved other friends in organizing the event (Giacomo Ciulli, Daniele Viviani, Cosimo Carzoli, Camilla Dani, Marina Sanesi, Margherita Pasquini, Marco Silvestri, Raffaele Macalindong)— – would like to thank the businesses that strongly believed in these young people and actively contributed to the realization of their idea: Banca Cambiano 1884 Spa, Sintesi Minerva, Circolo Puppino, Masterwood, Panificio Panchetti, Autoscuola Peruzzi Niccolini, Gardenia, Pub 0571, Riflesso Donna, Masterelectric, Locci Agricoltura, Riello, Radius Valdelsa
To participate, a contribution of €20 per team is required. For information and registration, please consult the Instagram account “hoopsXcastello” or contact +393668314414.
