Catholic leaders in Milan faced a choice when the city was chosen to host the event 2026 Winter Olympics.
They can wait passively for the event to unfold or bring up the event immediately Olympic spirit In their pastoral work. They chose the latter.
Archbishop of Milan Mario Delbini wrote in a letter following the launch of a program aimed at promoting… Olympic Values among young people.
The Ora Sport on Fire Tour has been running since late 2022, with new parish-led activities planned during the Games.
“The city as an Olympic village is a metaphor for saying that relationships are formed through competition based on mutual respect,” Delbini added.
in Italya state formed by it Catholic traditionthe Ora Sport on Fire tour operates in youth centers and schools of the diocese. It was developed by the Sports and Youth Awareness Offices of the Diocese of Milan, in collaboration with the School Pastoral Services.
According to Father Stefano Guidi, who heads the Diocese’s Oratory and Sports Ministry, both the program and the activities that will take place during the Games aim to make a specific contribution by highlighting the inclusive and social aspects of sports.
“We hope these values will help the youth in our city grow,” he said.
The first step in shaping the Ora Sport on Fire Tour was to study the Olympic Charter, the founding document of the Olympic Movement.
Subsequently, Milan’s religious leaders grounded their project in the cultural values of the event. Through sporting events, competitions and workshops, topics such as human rights and peace were promoted.
Hosted in Christian-inspired schools and oratorios, parish spaces are converted into after-school activities for youth, including sports and Catholic catechism classes.
Among its activities ahead of the Winter Olympics, the diocese also hosted meetings between religious leaders, athletes and youth.
During one of the early events associated with the launch of the program, Paralympic swimmer Ariana Talamona shared how being an athlete is both an honor and a responsibility.
“The one thing I often like to say when I go to schools and meet with students is to be patient and have very clear ideas about their interests,” Talamona said during the meeting, which was broadcast on diocesan channels. “And if they have dreams and passions, it’s important to nurture them.”
The Ora Sport On Fire Tour has its own Olympic torch. It is a symbolic way to bring the spirit of the games to the participating institutions.
The torch travels throughout the territory of the diocese, visiting two pastoral areas annually. As each deanery welcomed him, gatherings, prayers and conversations were held about Olympic values.
Speeches in cities such as Tradate, in northern Italy, posted on social media how children and teenagers passed the torch and reflected on its meaning.
In other cities, such as Gallarate, sporting activities have focused on inclusion. They taught young people how to recognize and respect diverse differences and abilities.
This approach has been consistent in the program since its inception. On the occasion of the launch of the third year of the Ora Sport On Fire Tour, Paralympic swimmer Alberto Amodeo appeared as a guest at a sports gathering of the diocese in Abbottigrasso.
He recalled his achievements at both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, stressing how the Games bring together athletes of different ethnicities.
“These are beautiful results that will remain in my heart forever,” Amodeo said.
The initiatives implemented during the Ora Sport On Fire tour changed from one deanery to another. It hosted some sports-themed plays supervised by a professional theater company. Others organized film forums or large-scale sporting activities.
Everyone remains connected to the next Olympic Games. However, sports have long been a staple of the diocese’s pastoral outreach to young people even before Italy was chosen to host the Winter Games.
According to Guidi, there are about 1,000 chapels in the Diocese of Milan. Practically all of them have a gym that conducts activities. “Some of them are even 100 years old,” he said. “For many children, teens and families, this is their only opportunity to exercise.”
He added that most activities are provided at low cost, mainly due to volunteer work.
Throughout the sports-related programs in the diocese, three essential aspects remain: conveying how sport helps develop each person’s physical abilities, how it supports socialization and how it develops respect for one’s opponent.
“It therefore suggests a kind of growth that carries the meaning of continuous training of oneself and one’s relationships,” Guede said. “And the ability to learn from mistakes.”
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