Sports and inclusion: Lottomatica Foundation supports Liberi Nantes at the 2026 Maratona dles Dolomites
On July 4, in Corvara in Badia, the Lottomatica Foundation joined the Laureus Italia Foundation at a media event to present the Liberi Nantes project, held during the 39th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel 2026. The event provided an important opportunity to share with stakeholders reflections on the crucial role of sports in building communities that are more inclusive, cohesive, and open to dialogue.
The meeting was attended by Daria Braga, Director of the Laureus Italia Foundation; Michil Costa, President of the Maratona dles Dolomites; Alberto Urbinati, President of Liberi Nantes; and Riccardo Capecchi, President of the Lottomatica Foundation.
Liberi Nantes, the team that broke down a barrier
Liberi Nantes is a sports association in the Pietralata neighborhood of Rome. Since 2007, it has offered free soccer and track and field activities to refugees, asylum seekers, and people in vulnerable situations, and it was the first Italian sports team composed entirely of refugees. Today, UNHCR recognizes it as a model of integration through sports. In addition to the sports programs, the association offers educational, cultural, and social support initiatives designed to build a shared space among people from different countries and cultures.
Sports and peace: the main topics of the meeting
The 2026 edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel is dedicated to the theme of peace, in line with the mission that has guided the Laureus Italy Foundation for over twenty years, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s words on the power of sport to change the world. Based on these principles, the Foundation has been implementing sports-for-development projects in Italy since 2005; these projects are currently active in five Community Sports Centers and serve thousands of children, teens, and families.
Shared Support
For the Lottomatica Foundation, supporting the “Liberi Nantes” project alongside the Laureus Foundation means promoting sports as a catalyst for social change and a universal language capable of breaking down all barriers. Supporting organizations that offer opportunities for redemption to those living in vulnerable circumstances translates into concrete action to foster connections between different communities and the development of a welcoming and inclusive social fabric. Doing this in the suburbs of major cities is even more valuable, because those are the places where human relationships need to be supported through long-term initiatives. Sports are the most powerful tool that, for young people, become a means of bringing people together and instilling a sense of community.
The Lottomatica Foundation aims to promote inclusion, well-being, and education through sports and culture. Its partnership with Liberi Nantes complements numerous other social initiatives supported by the Foundation, such as its participation in the Race for the Cure, underscoring its focus on projects that bring together sports, health, and the community.