Tremosine Hosts 2023 Open d’Italia Wheelchair Tennis Tournament
“Once again this year, Tremosine will be the venue for the Open d’Italia, the international wheelchair tennis tournament”: it is with pride that the mayor of Tremosine announces during the presentation at Palazzo Martinengo that between September 3 and 8, Tremosine will host the sixth edition of this sporting event dedicated to the disabled community.
An event of significant importance, which will see participation from many athletes who starred in tennis at the Sydney Paralympics, including the new world champion. This initiative is not only socially valuable but also sports-related, having continued support from the Camozzi family, who sponsored it, and organized by the Tennis Club Molino from Rezzato.
Program and Participants
Four competitions are scheduled: men’s and women’s singles and doubles, all taking place at the Campi di Voltino sports center in Tremosine. The enticing prize money of ten thousand dollars is complemented by numerous trophies and cups.
Present at the event were the President of the Province Cavalli, with the sports councillor Alessandro Sala, and the organizer Roberto Rosato. All expressed deep satisfaction with the renewed confirmation of the event in a town in Brescia that has provided top-level facilities, free of the architectural barriers that significantly limit access to sports life for many disabled individuals elsewhere.
Guests and Sector Challenges
Guest of honor Clay Ragazzoni, who has lived firsthand the challenging circumstances of disabled people for over twenty years and will be present throughout this edition. The former Formula One driver, after thanking the organizers and supporters, harshly criticized the national media, especially sports media, which “often publish news lacking interest, but completely ignore high-level activities happening in the disabled community, without considering their value and the broad appeal they could have.”
The beautiful inland tourist center of the Garda area will thus lend its voice and commitment to attempt to change a culture that views disability as a stigma to be ashamed of, where many structures, due to their inadequacy, make people feel the weight of this, starting right from simple daily needs.
Institutional Commitment and Response to Problems
Councilor Sala recalled the commitments made by the Province to address these issues, through agreements with the disabled federation, those for the visually impaired, and the Nikolajewka school.
The two international champions who attended the presentation expressed their great happiness about this highly significant event and appreciation for the efforts made by sponsors and organizers for this tournament, which counts toward the world ranking. They anticipate a large audience, eager to follow the many athletes participating in the event with interest.
