The World Skate Games – following the previous editions held in Nanjing (2017), Barcelona (2019), and Buenos Aires (2022), are making their debut in Italy this year, and will feature an unprecedented event taking place across the entire country.
This dynamic, urban, and sustainable event is set to captivate everyone, especially new generations. Indeed, sports on skating wheels are particularly appealing to youngsters, as evidenced during the Tokyo Olympic Games where skateboarding was among the top sports in terms of audience on social media.
The World Skate Games Itaia 2024 will be held from the 6th to to the 22nd September, with an estimated participation of over 12,000 people including athletes, coaches, and delegations from 100 countries worldwide and an expected presence in Italy of tens of thousands of fans from the four corners of the globe.
The universal language of skating wheels will gather athletes from 12 different sports within a single event. The spotlights will be on the urban disciplines born in the streets of the world, such as skateboarding, roller freestyle, and scootering; the adrenaline-pumping and high-speed sports like speed skating, skate-cross, downhill, and slalom; the exciting team sports like rink hockey, inline hockey, and roller derby; and the harmony, elegance and exquisite technique of artistic skating.
“It won’t just be the World Championships of skating wheels, but a true festival of the youth” emphasizes Sabatino Aracu, President of the International Federation World Skate. “Each event will take place at the heart of cities, amidst the beauties of the Italian cultural heritage; music will accompany each and every competition, representing the soundtrack of tricks, jumps, records, and team games. Competitions will be surrounded by Fan Fests, providing entertainment, concerts, and shows, and bringing together athletes, fans, and local communities.”
“The World Skate Games will put Italy under the spotlight of roller sports, a well-known as well as fascinating and entertaining sporting phenomenon in consideration of the variety and spectacularity of the disciplines performed as well as the level of interest it generates among young people – states Andrea Abodi, the Italian Minister for Sports and Youth. This “event of events”, all connected to one another, entails meanings that go beyond competitions – that in any case will award 156 medals – representing a powerful driving force for the promotion of sports, of the Italian system and of our peculiarities, in addition to the enhancement of our territory. It is important for the hosting Regions to feel the honor of welcoming thousands of athletes from all over the world and – after the World Championships – to be ready to embrace their legacy, by also promoting the construction or improvement of infrastructures devoted to roller sports. These are community sports, that establish family-like bonds and help to strengthen the educational values that are fundamental for these regions. It is therefore clear that the World Skate Games symbolically represent an extraordinary means to establish relationships with young people, leading to extremely positive social effects. For all these reasons, our joint commitment with President Aracu, the Italian Federation, the International Federation and the hosting organizations will be not to waste this heritage and to extract the full potential of this great event, by strengthening all its values and meanings.”
