| A resource for the land |
| More than 300 millions players in Europe. Minigolf arrives for the first time in Italy. The land is ready to welcome the event, which is an important economic opportunity for the Altomilanese |
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(10/25/06)
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It’s not a typical sport; however it has all the characteristics to become a noble sport.
Not many are aware of it, but in 2005 over 12 million Italians have played minigolf at least one time and the Wmf (World Minigolf Federation) attests that there are over 300 million participants in Europe.
Until you have seen it played at a competitive level you don’t have any an idea of what it is all about. In fact, to really discover minigolf means to fall in love with its path, to unveil its unexposed hidden secret, and smile baffled before the illumination.
Minigolf is the sum of the geometry of billiards, making it even more complicated by the fact that the “edges” aren’t straight but curved or bent always forming different angles, the precision with which one must aim for the target and its beauty as an outdoor sport.
Like most people think it to be, minigolf is enriched by positive values. Because by saying minigolf one thinks about family fun, matches among friends or perhaps even awkward first dates.
2007 will be the year which will offer miniature golf the opportunity to become an important Italian sport, we are betting everything on it. In fact in Italy, for the first time in the history of this discipline, there will be an international competition. And for this noble occasion comes the most anticipated event: the World Championships. With its sprit, its philosophy and above all, its champions it’s difficult (or actually, impossible) not to remain intrigued by the class, the delicacy or the originality in which the professionals of this sport astonish the unprepared observer. They demonstrate that they don’t just play minigolf, but that they “know” how to play minigolf.
There are two planned engagements for this event: the first is the Nations Cup, from the 19th to the 27th of May, a kind of appetizer to the real and true event: the World Championships, from the 11th to the 25th of August.
Both of the competitions will be played on the courses of Minigolf Relax Time in Canegrate (Milan), the sports centre that has been home to, on many occasions, the training of the Italian national team, and where, from next November, the practice retreats will take place in preparation for the next the world championships. The site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the competition will take place at San Giorgio Castle in Legnano.
“It’s about a one-time occasion”- says Giuliano Banfi, president of the Figsp (Italian Federation of Miniature Golf) - be it for the sport discipline or for the territory which will host the manifestations. Naturally we are proud to be the stage, for the first time, of an important competitive competition. We can allow ourselves to understand that minigolf is not only a pastime, but a sport without reserves, where the concentration, the physical preparation and talent are absolutely fundamental gifts.
The rules
Be it the Nations Cup or the World Championships taking place, the rules of the Wmf on this discipline are “traditional” (the classic 18 holes everyone knows) and “miniature” (mini-pitches in metal with a maximum length of 6 and a half meters).
The attendance
According to the estimates of the International Federation of Minigolf there will be about 800 people at the World Championships, among them athletes and managers from over thirty different nations who will gather in the area of Altomilanese for 15 days in August of the next year and 300 coming from 12 countries for 9 days in May for the Nations Cup. In addition, relatives, friends, fans and spectators will also be attending the event.
The diffusion of minigolf
At a practicing level, Europe contains more than 3.5 million athletes (about 150 thousand Italians, in the USA 5 million, Australia 800 thousand and the Asian Continent 4.8 million) who take part in official tournaments. The card-carrying athletes who arrive from all nations to various international competitions are around 34 thousand in Europe (1,072 in Italy) and over 100 thousand from the other continents.
The promoter committee
Last June, the Figsp appointed the company Eo Ipso Srl to create the first promoter committee to answer to the call of the World Minigolf Federation (Wmf), which choose Italy over England and Japan amongst the nations competing for the assignment of the World Championships connected with the Nations Cup. The panel complied to the “Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri”- ministry of young politics and sport, the region of Lombardy, the providence of Milan, the township of Legnano, the township of Canegrate, the merchants union of Legnano, the “Confartigianato Altomilanese”, the Bcc of Busto Garolfo and Buguggiate, Amga Spa, Accam Spa, Ianomi and Sinomi Spa (ex water-supply society of North Milan).
(25/10/2006)
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