Marcianise, a gym for legality

A day dedicated to the values of sports and law, a day to explain to the people what it is like to be a police officer in a difficult area such as Marcianise. The Police Chief Alessandro Pansa went to this little town near Caserta to inaugurate a boxing gym, the new junior boxing section of the police sports group Fiamme Oro. A symbolic place of social redemption for dozens of youngsters who have chosen sports, as a chance to live a normal life and win the battle against the Mafia's grip on society.

"The concern that we have in this area - said Prefect Pansa - is not only limited to the prevention and reduction of crime, and all related phenomena, including the so-called "Terra dei fuochi" (Land of fire). We are venturing into a different field, that of early prevention, to bring young people closer to legality through sports. In this way, they will become adults of sound principles and issues such as environmental pollution will tend to disappear".

"Sports and legality champions"
Prefect Pansa is not alone: with him the Fiamme oro champions Roberto Cammarelle, Domenico Valentino, Jessica Rossi, Martina Grimaldi, the whole rugby team, which plays in the national top division, and a multitude of youngsters, as the new boxing gym is located inside the "Federico Quercia" high school in Marcianise.

"This gym will be a reference centre for Marcianise and the whole area. It is a place that the National Police offer to young people, where they can meet, discuss and workout, according to sports values, that is, respect for the opponent and mental ability to overcome defeats. This gym is a symbol, as it is also a means to make citizens understand that in this area the police contribution is not limited to combat organized crime, but it is also aimed at creating sports and legality champions".

It was an extraordinary day for the National Police, and a day of celebration for the students. It was also an opportunity for about fifty police officers, all from Marcianise, to return home. They were invited to talk to the youngsters, to explain how proud they are to belong to an institution such as the police. During the morning, the Police Academy, headed by Roberto Sgalla, participated via videconference to present the activities of the Academy to the young people attending the event.

Italian