(rfg) The Team26 volunteer participation program, which directly involves the University of Verona, has been launched. The university has developed a program tailored to students from scientific and educational areas relevant to the Olympic event, such as economic-management, sports science, law, communication and journalism, linguistics, medical and health security.
The Education Gen26 project, created by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, aims to bring young people closer to the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games by conveying core values of sport. The initiative seeks to motivate young people to engage in sports activities, promoting sports as a powerful tool for self-improvement and community enhancement.
The presentation of the two programs was attended by Diego Begalli, Vice-Rector of the University of Verona, Federico Schena, Delegate for Education and Sports, Arianna Pucci, Education Operations Coordinator, and Silvia Mocchetti, Volunteers Engagement Manager from Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.
“For our university and for its students,” said Begalli, “it is an extraordinary opportunity to actively participate in the training and volunteering projects of Fondazione Milano Cortina. We firmly believe in the educational value of sports, an area we have strongly invested in through education and research. Thanks to the volunteer program, our students will have the chance to experience meaningful volunteer work, as part of the university’s Strategic Plan, ahead of the Olympic closing ceremony and the Paralympic opening ceremony, both of which will take place in Verona.”
Schena highlighted how participation in the volunteer program for the Games represents a valuable interdisciplinary training opportunity for young people at the University of Verona. The Gen26 project includes a series of educational initiatives aimed at schools and universities to spread the values of sport, encourage sports practice, and provide unique experiences. Through the Education Program of Milano Cortina 2026, the goal is to create a community of young sports enthusiasts across Italy, leaving a significant legacy for the country and the global sports movement.
Pucci and Mocchetti emphasized, “Training and field experience are also key aspects for Team26, the program dedicated to the volunteers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, an indispensable force for the success of the Olympics and Paralympics. Around 18,000 people, both Italian and international, will have the chance to experience the excitement of this major event up close. The selected volunteers – for whom we have already received over 45,000 applications – will contribute to enhancing the experience of all participants.”
The University of Verona has established specific study programs to prepare young people for managing large sporting events, including the new Master’s degree in Management of Innovative and Sustainable Sports Activities.
