The ‘Dream Euro Cup’ in Rome of football 5 for people with mental problems

From 23 to 28 September Rome will become the capital of five-a-side football and mental health

ROME – “From 23 to 28 September during the European Week for Sport,Rome will become the capital of 5-a-side football and mental health. The Eternal City will host the ‘Dream Euro Cup 2024‘, a non-profit futsal sporting event for the promotion and protection of mental health”. This was announced by the psychiatrist and head of the Ecos scientific committee, Santo Rullo, speaking in Parma at the Serie A Festival, organized by the Lega Calcio.

“The event, which will be held at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, better known as PalaTiziano – he continued – is organized by the cultural and sporting association Ecos (European Culture Sport and Organization) and financed by the European Commission within of the Erasmus+ Sport programme. the tournament will end on 27 September and the following day we will organize an international conference to which we will invite the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, and the Minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi.

“Sport – continued the psychiatrist – is a powerful tool for social inclusion and psychological well-being. Sport practice not only promotes physical health but also represents a moment of aggregation and therapeutic support for those who face problems related to mental health. The ‘Dream Euro Cup 2024’ will not just be a competition, but an opportunity to raise public awareness and break down prejudices related to mental illnesses and sharing, we can create a more inclusive and aware society”.

Santo Rullo is also the founder ofCrazy For Football, the national five-a-side football team for people with mental health problems who won the World Cup in 2018 in Rome and who will represent the Italian colors in the September competition. Lastly, Santo Rullo together with the Crazy for Football national team coach, Enrico Zanchini, expressed a dream: “Sooner or later I would like to donate this project to FIFA to ensure that it is welcomed into the football that matters As Basaglia said – he concluded – mental health concerns the whole of civil society”.