Barbaro (ASI): “Hundreds of sporting realities at risk of closure due to user price increases, the Government intervenes”

“If until a few months ago we had decided to face the increase in costs, now it is no longer possible to go on. The enormous increase in users jeopardizes our entire business ”, With these words, the President of CSS Verona, Massimo Dell’Acqua, announced the renunciation of the association, affiliated with Asi, to the A1 women’s championship. Verona leaves the national waterpolo sports elite opening a very topical debate. As the new season approaches, the alarm cry of the managers of the sports facilities and, in particular, of the swimming pools is raised. “The costs of electricity and gas have now become truly unsustainable”, explains Sen. of Fdi Claudio Barbaro, President of ASI (Italian Sports and Social Associations). The increases in gas bills, already significant last autumn, reached percentages of + 160% compared to the same periods in 2019. For electricity bills, + 110%. “In this way there is a very strong fear of new closures of sports facilities that offer users a service of great importance for psycho-physical well-being on a daily basis, with the concrete danger of the loss of thousands of jobs”, continues Barbaro. “Immediate intervention by the government is unavoidable. We recall that, too many times, Sport has suffered the delay and inadequacy of interventions aimed at supporting a sector of extraordinary importance for all citizens ”.