In Como, sport is a tool for inclusion capable of bringing people together and creating new opportunities. From March 6 to 8, 2026, our area will host the first edition of Special Tennis, a tournament dedicated to athletes with disabilities, created to offer them a path of autonomy and enjoyment through sport.
The event will transform the court into a space for growth for the entire community, with the ambition of becoming a national point of reference for inclusive tennis, a fundamental milestone that Como 1907 is proud to actively support.
The initiative takes shape at New Lario Park in Lipomo, a modern sports center that is now the beating heart of a project dedicated to athletes with disabilities. The journey stems from the meeting and shared vision of two individuals who have dedicated their lives to others: Daniel Sampayo, an Argentinian coach and former award winning Special Olympics coach at a global level, and Dr. Elena Balzaretti, physician at Sant’Anna Hospital and for years the driving force behind social projects such as "Un Sorriso per tutti".
From their synergy, in just a few weeks, a group of around twenty young athletes was formed, who now train consistently and are achieving extraordinary results: some of them have already reached a level that allows them to be integrated into regular tennis school lessons.
A decisive element in this journey is the support of Como 1907, which once again confirms its commitment to making sport accessible to everyone. In synergy with Decathlon, the Club has chosen to sponsor all the rackets and balls used for the tournament, contributing in a practical way to the realization of an event that aims to be only the beginning of a broader journey.
This commitment reflects the will of Fondazione Como ETS not to limit its contribution to a single day of sport, but to work toward creating a permanent network of clubs where every person with disabilities can challenge themselves, socialize and step out of isolation.
The idea quickly brought together an exceptional team working passionately behind the scenes: Alda Fantozzi, teacher and mother of a young special athlete; entrepreneur Valerio Mariani, long attentive to the vulnerabilities of the local community; Sara Botta and Letizia Nepomuceno, who manage communication and the digital side of the project; and Stefano Gervasoni, the coach who every day follows the athletes on the court with dedication. Thanks to their work, the tournament will host athletes from Rome, Veneto and Friuli, in addition to numerous local associations that promptly accepted the invitation to participate.
The goal is ambitious: during the event, anyone, without age limits, will be able to pick up a racket and experience the emotion of a net shot supported by the cheers of our community. As highlighted by Elena Balzaretti, the intention is to encourage young people to begin a path of sport and social interaction, while at the same time encouraging parents to promote the discovery of what exists beyond the walls of home.
"We want this to be only the beginning of a great journey, where children, teenagers, adults, elderly people and special athletes can come together on the court united by the same passion" adds Daniel Sampayo. "Sport remains today the most authentic and healthy dimension, made of real human relationships, in which, fortunately, a screen does not yet stand between people." concludes the founder of the center.
With this spirit, Como 1907 continues to promote sport as a universal language, to remind us that when we step onto the field, what truly matters is mutual respect and passion for the game.