(More-on-sports) An exceptional event unfolded the 7th of february in Montesilvano, Abruzzo for the unveiling of the World Skate Games Italia 2024. The World Championships spanning all wheeled sports will run from September 6th to 22nd across 4 Italian regions, Piemonte, Lazio, Emilia Romagna and Abruzzo.
Officially introducing the international event was the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at the Pala Dean Martin in Montesilvano (Pescara), launching a series of World Championships across other cities involved in the competition.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to be here,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “There are several reasons why we support initiatives of this magnitude. Firstly, we often underestimate ourselves as a nation, not believing we’re up to the task. Yet, not only can we host major events, but we excel at them, especially thanks to some smaller municipalities, which prove to be invaluable, as shown by these World Skate Games. As a government, we pay special attention to these World Championships. There’s great anticipation for the event abroad as well.
This event will involve Italy and cities with rich narratives beyond the major centers like Rome, and others. And then there’s the youth,” emphasized the Prime Minister. “Roller sports are accessible to everyone and can be practiced anywhere, in squares, in streets, they represent inclusive and accessible sports for all. Disciplines that continue to grow. We’ll give our best and play our part, for a proud territory, for our Italy, for the young people, and for our athletes. May it be a grand event, and best of luck to everyone!”
Italy will serve as the stage for the global event.
The regions participating in the WSG 2024 are:
LAZIO
Roma, Ostia: Skateboarding Park / Scootering Park / Roller Freestyle Park
Roma, Colle Oppio: Skateboarding Street / Roller Freestyle Street/ Scootering Street
Roma, Pincio: Skateboarding Vert / Roller Freestyle Vert / Inline Freestyle/ Skate Cross
Roma will also host the Opening Ceremony.
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Rimini: Artistic Skating
PIEMONTE
Novara: Rink Hockey
ABRUZZO
Roccaraso: Inline Hockey
Montesilvano: Track Speed Skating and Roller Derby
Pescara: 100m Track Speed Skating
Sulmona: Road Track Speed Skating
Chieti: Inline Slalom
Tortoreto: Inline Downhill and Skateboarding Downhill
And then the spectacular Roller Marathon of Track Speed Skating, a captivating 42 km race through city streets and along the Adriatic coast, touching Pescara, Montesilvano, and Francavilla al Mare.
“The World Skate Games are the event that awards the highest number of world championship titles ever: 156” emphasized the president of the Italian Federation FISR and of World Skate, Sabatino Aracu. “The World Skate Games will be held in Italy for the first time, across four regions, after the editions in Nanjing, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires. An unparalleled event featuring 12 world championships in 12 vastly different disciplines, united by a tremendous passion for the wheels. A united community of athletes and sports open to all, especially the youth.”
An urban and sustainable event, that will engage millions of fans, particularly the younger generations, as evidenced during the Tokyo Olympics, where skateboarding emerged as the most followed sport on social media.
The Italian edition of the World Skate Games 2024 stands as the largest event in sports history, with 156 world championship titles at stake. It anticipates the arrival of over 12,000 athletes, coaches, and delegations from over 100 countries. Tens of thousands of fans from around the world will flock to Italy to watch 600 competitions, covered by over 100 TV broadcasters and media outlets.
A universal language – that of wheels and the WSG 2024 – that transcends cultural boundaries. Among the disciplines poised to captivate audiences there are those rooted in urban environments, such as skateboarding, freestyle, and scootering, which originated in the streets of the world. Additionally, adrenaline-fueled and fast-paced events like speed, skate cross, downhill, and slalom promise exhilarating performances. Complementing these individual endeavors are thrilling team sports, including rink hockey, inline hockey, and roller derby, along with the esteemed discipline of artistic skating.
