An alliance in the name of sport and student wellbeing
Today at the CUS in Dalmine, the first initiative in Italy enabling the sharing of sports facilities between two universities in different cities was presented: the University of Bergamo and the University of Milano‑Bicocca, supported by ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII. This opportunity will involve over 60,000 students, who, starting next academic year, will have unrestricted access to the sports facilities of both institutions, regardless of their university of enrolment.
The agreement originates from collaboration within the Papa Giovanni XXIII University Training Hub, which already hosts undergraduate healthcare courses from Milano‑Bicocca and the single-cycle Medicine and Surgery degree, jointly promoted by UniBg and UniMiB.
Sergio Cavalieri, Rector of the University of Bergamo, declared:
“This initiative represents a virtuous example of inter-university collaboration. Sport is integral to academic life, and offering our students access to an expanded network of facilities means investing concretely in their wellbeing, sociability and the creation of an increasingly inclusive and dynamic university community.”
Giovanna Iannantuoni, Rector of the University of Milano‑Bicocca, stated:
“Physical activity and sport are fundamental and indispensable components of students’ physical and mental health. Our university has increased its provision of practical opportunities and infrastructure for sports over the years. This unique agreement in Italy will enhance sporting activities, team spirit and the sense of community between the two academic bodies.”
Francesco Locati, General Director of ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, added:
“This agreement grants over 700 students attending degree programmes at the Papa Giovanni XXIII University Hub access to the CUS Dalmine sports facilities, a high-quality centre offering a wide range of disciplines. In the Anglo-Saxon world, we’d say our two partner universities have thought ‘out-of-the-box’, finding a creative and innovative solution to a practical issue—students living in Bergamo attending another institution gaining access. We will promote this opportunity among students, because health, even during university years, benefits greatly from an active lifestyle and movement.”
Also present at the launch were Alessandra Gallone, Adviser to the Minister for University and Research; Pompeo Leone, Secretary-General of FederCUSI; Marco Riva, President of CONI Lombardy; Francesco Lo Monaco, Delegate of Bergamo’s Rector Sergio Cavalieri for sports activities and CUS relations; and Lucia Visconti Parisio, Delegate for University Sport at Milano‑Bicocca.
Alessandra Gallone commented:
“This initiative concretely demonstrates how synergy between universities, health and sports bodies can have a sustained positive impact on the quality of university life. Shared access to sports facilities is a significant step towards an inclusive university model, investing in students’ physical and mental wellbeing and strengthening the social dimension of education. It realises the constitutional recognition of sport by extending facility access to citizens. It also sends a strong signal of the Ministry’s commitment to innovative policies placing people at the centre.”
Pompeo Leone explained:
“FederCUSI considers this project important for two main reasons: locally, it allows students from two different universities—Milan and Bergamo—to use more sports facilities; nationally, it anticipates FederCUSI’s plans for all Italian universities. FederCUSI congratulates and thanks the academic authorities of the Lombard universities for promoting the project, demonstrating care for student wellbeing, and supports the two engaged CUSs in their organisational efforts to ensure its success.”
Marco Riva, President of CONI Lombardy, added:
“This initiative exemplifies a virtuous synergy between academia, health and sport. Networking the sports facilities of two major universities not only offers more opportunities for students but also tangibly promotes wellbeing and an active lifestyle. It embodies the Olympic vision of sport as a tool for growth and social cohesion.”
THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE
CUS Dalmine, a flagship of UniBg’s offer, spans 13,000 m² and includes:
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two 900 m² gymnasia for team sports
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four exercise studios
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a 550 m² weight-training room with 90 stations
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outdoor covered track, sauna, Turkish bath, medical office and sustainable energy systems
Additional UniBg offerings include a partnership with the Guardia di Finanza Academy and two new facilities expected by 2026 (Via Broseta Sports Centre and the new Via Statuto campus).
In Milan, the Bicocca Stadium (Viale Sarca) features football and rugby pitches, both indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an athletics track and changing rooms, while PalaBicocca (Via Gioli) houses an indoor court with parquet flooring for team sports.
Both universities reaffirm the public nature of their sports facilities, which are also open to citizens. This collaboration looks to the future by making inter-institutional synergy a model to promote sport as a common good.