"Different, who – exactly?" – art and inclusion event wins widespread acclaim

Yesterday in the late afternoon, at the Kursaal in San Marino, the first edition on home soil of “Diverso a chi?” took place – an event built around music, sharing, reflection and sensory experiences, all closely intertwined with the central, common theme of inclusion. Guiding more than 300 participants through an evening that was truly one of a kind for San Marino – promoted by the San Marino Football Federation and San Marino Academy – was master of ceremonies Emanuele Ottoni.

The term sensory experience – indeed, multisensory – was anything but an overstatement. The five senses of the large audience were repeatedly stimulated:

1. touch, through the free and unlimited use of inflatable balls in the hall – sparking smiles and interaction;
2. taste, with the sampling of biscuits made by the youngsters of In Perfetto;
3. hearing, through music and first-hand accounts;
4. sight, thanks to images of the protagonists projected in the hall;
5. smell, via a bookmark – given to all participants – scented with the Aqua essence produced by La Saponeria del Titano.

The highly positive and impactful feedback was also made possible by those who strongly backed and believed in the project. In particular, Marlù, as always attentive and at the forefront of initiatives of this kind. “Diverso a chi? is an event that speaks about people, opportunities and the future. For Marlù, supporting initiatives that promote inclusion and awareness means helping to build a more open society, where differences become an asset and not an obstacle,” said Marta Fabbri, Co-Founder and Marketing & Communication Director at Marlù.

“Diverso a chi?” aimed to raise awareness among everyone taking part, both in the hall and those following the live YouTube stream provided by the FSGC, on the theme of inclusion. The event slots into the already extensive range of activities developed over the years by the San Marino Football Federation – as highlighted on stage by Andrea Zoppis, SES Manager. It is a project with deep roots in San Marino society, where it has taken hold – as was clear from last night’s event. The reflection written and read by Edoardo Zafferani, a participant in the “integrated-inclusion” pathway of Football is Inclusion, was perhaps the most moving and powerful testimony to how such projects provide extraordinary opportunities and unquantifiable rewards.

The hope is to spark a similar flame through on-pitch experiences as well. Among these are those of Riccardo Amadei and Igor Tamagnini, recipients of the 1st Federico Crescentini Award: both voluntarily take part every Friday in the activities of Football is Inclusion, supported by their families in this additional commitment alongside that to their respective clubs. Particularly touching were the words of the mother of Federico Crescentini, the San Marino footballer who passed away almost twenty years ago in Mexico while saving the life of a person in difficulty. “An award in memory of our son means keeping alive the values he believed in: courage, selflessness and respect for the lives of others. Knowing that he is not forgotten and that he becomes an example for other young people gives meaning to the pain we carry every day,” Federico’s mother Paola said from the stage, offering a final, powerful moment of connection and empathy to the entire audience.