Twenty-two San Marino sports federations have expressed disappointment over the decision by middle schools to limit participation in Sportinfiera 2026 to first-year classes only. The move prompted the federations to respond with an open letter, arguing that the reasons given by the schools carry little weight compared to the educational and social value of sport.
Explaining the federations’ position is Leonardo Sansovini, president of the Underwater Activities Federation and spokesperson for the 22 signatory federations. «There is a lot of regret. We absolutely do not want to clash with the school, whose great work from an educational and didactic point of view we fully recognize». What also left the sporting world puzzled was learning of the decision “at the last moment”.
The organizational reasoning has come under particular scrutiny. «The fact, for example, that the issue is moving or organizing 900 students left us a bit taken aback, because this is the 28th edition. We could understand it in the early editions, but by the 28th it’s hard to grasp», Sansovini observes.
According to the federations, the Olympic Committee, sports associations and the school system have by now built up considerable experience in managing the event. «All of us federations are volunteers, and we put ourselves at their service for those three days to show them everything our territory has to offer».
But the main issue concerns above all students in their second and third year of middle school. The federations disagree with the idea that, at that age, young people have already made a definitive choice about which sport to pursue. «Only someone outside the world of sport would think that, because the opposite is actually true: sporting dropout mainly happens at that age, between 13 and 15», Sansovini stresses.
Precisely for this reason, according to the federations, Sportinfiera could be even more useful for teenagers who are considering giving up their sport. «If a young person is undecided, wants to quit, or has lost motivation, on that occasion we can offer them new incentives and new opportunities that could keep them within the world of sport, with all its benefits».
Sansovini concludes by reiterating that the federations’ intervention is not meant to spark a confrontation with the school, but rather to make their position public: «The Olympic Committee organizes a wonderful event that everyone envies us for. Among ourselves, we were genuinely upset by this decision».
