Italy, Africa Deepen Sports, Cultural Ties at Rome Summit
The “Italy–Africa: Cultures in Play” summit ended in Rome on Monday with renewed commitments to strengthen cooperation between Italy and African nations through sports, cultural exchange, youth empowerment and sustainable development.
Held at the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani to commemorate Africa Day 2026, the summit convened diplomats, government officials, athletes, academics, sports administrators and business leaders from both regions under the theme: “Sport as a Platform for Encounter, Dialogue, Identity and Sustainable Growth.”
A major highlight of the event was the participation of Mariabenedicta Chigbolu, daughter of the First Vice President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, Augustine Chigbolu, who joined international panelists in discussions on sports diplomacy, intercultural dialogue and youth development.
Organised by the Institute for Italy–Africa Dialogue (IDIAF), the summit projected sports as a universal tool for promoting inclusion, peace, cooperation and economic advancement across continents.
Opening the event, Prof. Carlo Ossola welcomed participants, while Ambassador Vincenza Lomonaco emphasised the need for stronger institutional and cultural partnerships between Italy and Africa.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, addressed the gathering alongside Eritrea’s Ambassador to Italy and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Fessahazion Pietros Menghistu.
Other speakers, including Luciano Buonfiglio and Firmin Edouard Matoko, highlighted the role of sports as a strategic instrument for diplomacy, education and sustainable development.
During the first major panel session titled “Sport as Shared Heritage: Identity, Memory and Intercultural Dialogue,” Mariabenedicta Chigbolu joined other global contributors in examining how sports can help combat stereotypes, promote gender equality and inspire youth leadership.
Other panelists included Daisy Osakue, Filomeno Lopes and Burundian Olympic champion Vénuste Niyongabo.
Additional sessions explored sports and education, youth mobility initiatives, technical training, leadership development and academic partnerships between Italian and African institutions.
Participants also discussed the expanding economic value of sports through infrastructure development, tourism, branding, entrepreneurship and sports management opportunities.
The summit came at a symbolic period for international sports in 2026, following the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy and ahead of the Dakar Youth Olympic Games in Senegal — the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.
At the close of the summit, organisers reaffirmed plans to establish a long-term framework for cultural exchange, institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing between Italy and African countries, with sports positioned as a bridge for future cooperation and opportunities for young people across both regions.
