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They will be held at the Saini Center and will see the participation of over 400 young people of 55 nationalities from all over the world. Focus on sustainability with Food Wave. Councilor Riva: "A unique meeting and exchange opportunity for boys and girls and for a university and international city like ours"

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Milan, 14 April 2022 – From Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April the Saini Center in Milan will host the National Erasmus Games (NEG), the collective sporting event promoted by Erasmus Student Network Italia (ESN Italia), created to enhance sport as a universal language and tool for improving lifestyles.
The appointment was presented this morning at Palazzo Marino by the Councilor for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies Martina Riva, with Alessio Burlon, national representative of ESN Italy, Massimiliano Marziali, head of the NEG Organizational Committee and Event Manager of ESN Italy and Virginia Pignata, activist of Food Wave, a project of the Municipality of Milan.

During the three days of the event, students on study mobility with the Erasmus programme, coming from North to South Italy and accompanied by local students, will meet to participate in real National Olympics. More than 400 students - over 50 nationalities - will have the opportunity to compete in different sports disciplines representing their ESN Section during their exchange period in Italy. The sports competing are: mixed basketball (5x5), mixed football (5x5), mixed volleyball (5x5), 100 meters men and women and 1500 meters men and women.
The athletes selected at the Italian level will then be able to participate in the International Erasmus Games (IEG), a pan-European initiative for health and well-being promoted by the student network, which will be hosted this year from 12 to 15 May in Coimbra, Portugal.

This year's edition will be carried out in collaboration and thanks to the support of the Municipality of Milan, as part of the Food Wave project, financed by the European Union, created with 30 international partners and led by the Municipality of Milan, with the aim to promote physical well-being, but also respect for nature, the fight against climate change and environmental sustainability. The activities in support of the sports competitions will aim to promote the themes of the project among participants, spectators and organizers of the event, starting from the relationship between food and climate change and youth activism.

“For Milan it is a real pleasure to host the 'Erasmus Olympics' at the Saini Center – declared councilor Riva -. Ours is a university city, with an international soul, a lover of sport and at the forefront in promoting correct lifestyles, also in terms of food and environmental sustainability. By recalling these aspects, thanks also to the initiatives implemented in collaboration with Food Wave, the National Erasmus Games will be able to remember, with the freshness and genuineness of hundreds of students from all over the world, how sport can bring people together and create special relationships. and lasting and spread universal values, starting with respect for others. For this reason, I am sure that the NEG will be a unique opportunity for meeting and exchange, both for the Erasmus students in Italy who will take part and for the city".

The first phase of qualifications will begin on Friday 22 April, at 14 pm, at the Saini Center (via Arcangelo Corelli, 136) and will continue throughout the day. The second qualifying phase and the finals will be played on Saturday 23 April, from 9 am; the awards ceremony will be held at 30 pm. The event will close on the morning of Sunday 19 April. The three days will include moments of interaction and exchange, with the Social Program dedicated to sustainability.

THE PARTICIPANTS

The event will involve 402 young people, including 171 girls and 231 boys who will be divided into:
•14 futsal teams;
•17 volleyball teams;
•11 basketball teams;
•58 participants in athletics competitions.

There are a total of 83 Italian participants, the rest of the young people come from four continents:
•87% Europe (348):
•6% Asia (25);
•1% Africa (4);
•6% America (25).

Below is the list of countries of origin:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Holland, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India , Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain , Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and Zimbabwe.

FOOD WAVE

Food Wave is a project funded by the European Commission, which aims to create a new alliance between mayors and young people for a green, inclusive and sustainable future of cities. It is developed by the Municipality of Milan, International Relations Department of the Mayor's Cabinet, together with 16 international cities and 13 civil society organisations.

The project focuses in particular on the importance that sustainable food systems at an urban level and the adoption of responsible practices and lifestyles by boys and girls can play in mitigating climate change.
Food Wave aims to inform and involve 15 million young people aged 15 to 35 through a web platform and an international digital campaign, training courses and contributions to young people, supported by an international network of Ambassadors and influencers. The project also involves the carrying out of specific research and studies on food and climate change and the active involvement of young people through online and offline activities including urban games, schools of activism, discussion forums, international exchanges, art competitions and film festivals.

Website www.foodwave.eu
Facebook www.facebook.com/foodwaveproject
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/foodwaveproject/
Official hashtags #Foodwaveproject #CatchTheWave
Food Wave activity video https://youtu.be/l2FXYriz_mA

THE SAINI CENTRE

The Saini Sports Center, in via Corelli 136, is among the largest sports facilities owned by the Municipality of Milan.
Designed and built by CONI starting from 1971, since 1994 it has been managed by Milanosport, which also guarantees the presence within the Center of sports federations such as FIN (Italian Swimming Federation), FIDAL (Italian Athletics Federation), FIBS (Italian Baseball and Softball), FIA (Italian Referees Federation), as well as various sports associations and clubs. It hosts national and international competitions. The center records over 200 thousand visitors between athletes and sportsmen every year.
In February 2022, the Municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Milan aimed at the valorisation, redevelopment and management of the Center with public funds.