Reggio Emilia, the Sports Foundation’s “Reggio Team” triumphs over Texas Gazzetta di Reggio

Reggio Emilia “An unforgettable experience, connected to a lifestyle completely different from ours, but which has left something in our hearts that we will remember forever.”

The boys of “Team Reggio”, the heroes of the mission, are very excited and full of adrenaline. Fort WorthTexas. They had crossed the ocean and were now familiar with the new era, the vast spaces and the diverse customs of the United States.

Young people from Reggio Emilia, led by Mauro Roospresident Sports institution The Municipality of Reggio Emilia – which has promoted the experience, just as it has promoted international events and exchanges related to sport and education for different disciplines and sports associations in recent years – is witnessing an international exchange with 19 13-year-olds from 17 different local swimming clubs (Reggiana Nuoto, Olimpia Bibbiano, Onda della Pietra Castelnovo Monti and Coopernuoto), followed by the coach of Reggio Emilia Riccardo Sassi. The youngsters are training with the athletes of the Texan Sigma swimming team (which took part in the last International Tricolor Games), guests of some local families.

Exchanges like this focus on towns and villages connected to Reggio and the province and are organised in collaboration with E35 FoundationThe Team Reggio project coincides with the 40th anniversary of the signing of the agreement between the municipality and the city of Fort Worth in 2025. The swimming delegation met athletes and swimmers of the same age from Sigma Swimming. , experienced the culture of Texas as a whole and then met representatives of the sister cities of Fort Worth and the local government. During these hours, the Reggio team will be in San Antonio and Houston and will visit the NASA Space Center in Houston.

Luca Vecarelli, He is 15 years old, has been swimming since he was four and attends Spallanzani Sports High School. Luca “I am very excited about this experience, also because it is my first trip alone. I feel like I have matured and being here is a step towards adulthood. And I really love America and sharing this lifestyle with my friends.”

purple straw He particularly appreciates the comparison with American children, “whose style is very different from ours, but swimming is the same for everyone. The differences are in the routine: it is very different in training and habits. The times are fundamentally different: here dinner and breakfast are eaten at different times. Also, unless it is very hot and you go home, their social life is very intense and takes place outside.”

Beatrice Tarasconi, 14 years old, praises the welcome “from the families who received us. They picked us up from the airport and took us to eat traditional chicken. It was like living in a movie.” Sara R. “She was fascinated by the ‘big spaces’. You may have to drive to different destinations, but once you get there, everything is fine… In Texas, the approach between people is very friendly. We alternated training with fun.”

Emma Grassigli and Chiara Lizzari They come from Bibbiano and show “a big difference in training: we were used to a 25-meter pool, here we tried a 50-meter pool and we also learned new exercises. We take some great memories back home. The best memory was the first pool party where we all got together, Italians and Americans.”