Respect&Play: When Sport Keeps Memory Alive

Memory also lives through sport, music, and stories that speak to younger generations while bringing an entire community together. On Thursday, 29 January 2026, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Como experienced an evening of deep reflection and shared emotion through Respect&Play, an event dedicated to the students who took part in the project of the same name, their families and the wider community. The initiative was created with the aim of telling a story that deserves to be remembered.

The event, held at Cinema Astra – recently renovated also thanks to the Club’s support – is part of the increasingly strong collaboration between Como 1907, TesteDiSerie and Polisport SSD. For several years, this partnership has brought an educational programme into local schools based on the values of sport, respect and fair play. The evening’s protagonists were the students who have taken part in the Respect&Play journey, invited to watch and reflect on a story that must not be forgotten.

“Como 1907 gives us the opportunity to visit various schools and carry out our educational mission. Passing on culture and sporting values to young people is fundamental for us in building a more respectful and just society,” explained Paolo Novati, teacher and founder of Respect&Play. “The event on 29 January allowed us to tell a story so that we do not forget the harm that humanity has inflicted upon itself; a necessary reflection to better understand the world around us and to recognise how that same evil is still present in many parts of the world today.”

The performance, entitled A Ball in the Lager, guided the audience through the story of Árpád Weisz, a Hungarian Jewish coach who won one Serie A title with Inter and two with Bologna between the two World Wars, before being deported and dying in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It was a powerful narrative intertwining sport and remembrance, combining spoken word, pop music and well-known film scores linked to the theme of the Holocaust.

On stage, alongside Paolo Novati, were Mattia Riva and Paolo Candeloro – key figures in the Respect&Play school programme – accompanied by guitarist Giuseppe Mastria and Conservatory musicians Emmanuele Astorino, Mirco Bussi, Maria Colella, Giuseppe L’Abbate and Flavio Sartorelli. The orchestra added emotional depth to the story, transforming remembrance into a shared experience accessible to younger generations.

The evening left a lasting impression on those in attendance. “Thank you for such an intense evening, a meaningful and engaging way to tell the story of the genocide of the Jewish people. My family and I were deeply moved by the way the story was told and by the emotion conveyed through the music and orchestra,” said Rebecca, a middle school student.

“It was a truly moving evening that introduced me to a figure I did not know, told with great strength. The combination of music and words made the message even more powerful,” added Maria Rosa, a local teacher.

Once again, Respect&Play demonstrated how sport can be much more than competition: a universal language capable of educating, uniting and inspiring reflection.