An exciting new project, “Fencing beyond borders“, born from the collaboration between the Pinerolo Fencing Academy ASD, Italea Piemonte, the Municipality of Pinerolo and the twinned Municipality of San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina). This initiative has its roots in the twinning between Pinerolo and San Francisco and aims to strengthen this bond of friendship through the promotion and development of fencing. The goal is to support the creation of the Academia de Esgrima de San Francisco, thus bringing the art of fencing, with its centuries-old Pinerolo traditions, to Argentina as well.

Pinerolo boasts a long and prestigious history in fencing. In 1983, a group of enthusiasts decided to revitalize the sport, founding a place for meeting, training and growing together. Today, the Pinerolo ASD Fencing Academy, thanks to the collaboration of the Municipality of Pinerolo and the contribution of volunteers, qualified instructors and numerous professionals (sports psychologists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, athletic trainers), offers Olympic and Paralympic fencing courses, psychomotor skills for children and a course dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities. In addition, the “Pink Ribbon Project”, a therapeutic fencing course for women operated on for breast cancer, is being developed.

The sports twinning project with San Francisco, launched in December 2024, represents an ideal bridge between the two communities, combining sport with roots tourism. After an initial trip to Argentina by the President of the Pinerolo Fencing Academy, Paolo Gay, it is planned that in July 2025 two instructors from the Academy will travel to San Francisco again, thanks to the support of Italea Piemonte and the Municipality of Pinerolo. This mission aims to continue the promotion of fencing in local schools, support future Argentine instructors and lay the foundations for the foundation of the Academia de Esgrima de San Francisco.

Italea, the program promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and funded by NextGenerationEU, aims to enhance roots tourism. Italea Piemonte, part of this national network, is dedicated to the creation of a tourist and cultural offer aimed at the more than six million Italians of Piedmontese origin in the world. Collaboration with local communities is fundamental for Italea, as it allows the development of initiatives that strengthen hospitality, ties with communities abroad and the promotion of territories and villages.

In this context, the “Fencing beyond borders” project perfectly embodies Italea’s goals. The dissemination of the values of sport among the younger generations and the strengthening of ties with the Piedmontese community in Argentina represent a unique opportunity to combine culture, sport and roots tourism in an international cooperation project.

For more information on the Pinerolo ASD Fencing Academy, you can contact Paolo Gay at 331 67 75 379 or by e-mail at accademiaschermapinerolo@gmail.com.