Municipal Councilor’s Charitable Calendar Sparks Controversy

Municipal Councilor and Charitable Calendar

Municipal councilor strips for charity. Emanuele Veronesi, delegate for education, posed semi-nude for a calendar featuring models who are players of the local amateur soccer team. Covering the “noble” parts of the body are olive branch twigs—less poetic than one might think—that symbolize, in a less poetic manner, the young administrator’s work activity in producing oil.

Twelve months, from March to February, featuring twenty modern-day Riace Bronzes (so to speak) from next door. All united by a common denominator: exhibitionism. A desire for prominence that has found an open door even by the lake.

Calendar Details and Beneficiary Goals

As in the cult calendars of the early 2000s, the main focus is the body, but thankfully it is sufficiently covered, showcasing the “misfortunes” of young athletes, some a bit rusty, passionate about soccer. The calendar, printed in five hundred copies, is sold at ten thousand lire at the trusted “amateur,” and all proceeds will be donated to the “La Nostra Casa” reception center in Peschiera.

A noble purpose proposed by banker Damiano Bozzini, Miss September “dressed” in hundred-thousand-lire bills (the salary for one month?), who previously served as a civil conscript at the Arilicense center. It is clear, however, that what prompted the amateurs (in a football sense) to showcase themselves was a desire for revenge against the Olimpia Lazise players, a team competing in the First category.

Reactions and Opinions on the Initiative

Comments that, for reasons of good neighborhood, are unlikely to receive official confirmation from those directly involved. Certainly, the sense of belonging to a community, well expressed by the amateur team composed entirely of young people from the town, clashes with the reality of Olimpia, a team made up primarily of youths from neighboring villages.

Beyond local jealousy, the work is an “art” piece, with inevitable comments for or against an initiative that is anything but innovative—and perhaps not even particularly surprising. “They took it well at home,” says Emanuele Veronesi. “Only my mom didn’t want to see the calendar. But that doesn’t count. She wouldn’t even look at a naked Richard Gere photo.”

Details of the Photoshoot and Personal Reactions

The photoshoot took place in the changing rooms of the municipal stadium on via Marra. “It was a Friday evening after training,” confesses Andrea Mantovani, the goalkeeper, who is only covered by a glove. He “illuminates” the October month with Basilio (Mirco Barbazeni). The photos featuring the most bizarre poses of those involved were taken by a professional in the field of imagery.

“It took two hours of rehearsals before the final shots.” All participants agreed, of course. “Except for one,” admits Mantovani. “Giampaolo Sartori’s photo was stolen. But he’s so modest that ‘Cenciù’ had no problem granting permission for publication.”