The bond between Pinerolo (Piedmont, Italy) and San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina) is getting stronger and stronger, weaving new threads thanks to the power of sport, in particular fencing. This long-standing twinning is experiencing renewed momentum through initiatives that look both to the future and to common roots.
At the heart of this dynamic is the project called “Fencing beyond borders”. The initiative is promoted by the Pinerolo ASD Fencing Academy with the aim of spreading the practice of fencing and actively supporting the creation of a new “Academia de Esgrima de San Francisco”. The ultimate goal is to support future local instructors in the development of the project, up to the foundation of the Academy.
This laudable initiative is made possible thanks to the joint support of Italea Piemonte, the Municipality of Pinerolo and the Italian Fencing Federation. The enthusiasm for the project is palpable: the President of the Pinerolo Fencing Academy, Paolo Gay, has already visited San Francisco between December 2024 and January 2025. A crucial next step will take place in July 2025, when two Italian technicians, specifically Paolo Gay and Tommaso Merlo from the Pinerolo ASD Fencing Academy, will return to Argentina for a period from July 23 to August 2. This visit will serve to deepen knowledge and techniques and to progress towards the creation of the local Academy.
But why fencing? This sport is considered a powerful vehicle to promote discipline, respect and dialogue between cultures. These are fundamental values that cement friendship between peoples. President Paolo Gay underlined how the project embodies the spirit of international cooperation, using fencing to build bridges of friendship and mutual understanding, hoping for a lasting collaboration. The idea for this sporting synergy was born in Pinerolo in September 2024, during the visit of representatives of the twinned city of San Francisco.
The importance of this project goes beyond the sporting aspect. It is deeply linked to the role of the Italea Piemonte program, which, as explained by José Luis Vaira, of the local Familia Piamontesa , is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at facilitating communication with descendants of Italian roots, especially with their countries of origin. San Francisco, in fact, welcomes a significant community linked to Piedmontese emigration. Initiatives like this use sport as a tangible tool to strengthen ties with the descendants of emigrants, keeping alive the cultural and emotional bridge across the ocean. José Luis Vaira recalled his trip to Italy in June 2024 for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the monument to the Piedmontese in the world (twinned with that of San Francisco), which helped to renew the twinning and generate new opportunities for exchange. The Intendant of San Francisco, Damián Bernarte, expressed great satisfaction with the announcement, recognizing the merit of Italea Piemonte and the municipality of Pinerolo.
The “Fencing beyond borders” project demonstrates how the passion for a sport can become an engine of cultural exchange and an effective way to honor and bring together communities separated by historical emigration, celebrating the common roots that continue to unite Italy and Argentina.
