Italian Center for Sport (C.S.I.). It is an initiative promoted by the General Directorate of the Italian Catholic Action (A.C.I.) and fostered by the Italian Catholic Action Youth, with the aim of regulating, coordinating, and developing sports and hiking activities, approached with a Christian spirit.
The C.S.I. had a predecessor in the Federation of Italian Sports Associations (F.A.S.C.I.), which, founded in late 1906, thrived until 1927 when it was suppressed by the Fascist regime, which sought to monopolize even this sector of citizens' activities. The C.S.I., established in Rome on March 1, 1944, has a central governing council and an ecclesiastical assistant. At its base are the sports unions, either parish-based or arising within other Catholic organizations such as oratories, colleges, and institutes. The sports unions affiliate with the C.S.I. through the diocesan sports office, from which they receive membership cards and publications. The C.S.I. has special agreements with the Italian National Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.) and with various national sports federations. The C.S.I. publishes *Stadium*, a monthly sports information magazine.