Italian Sports Center (C.S.I.)

ITALIAN SPORTS CENTER (C.S.I.). - It is a work willed by the General Directorate of the A.C.I. and promoted by the Gioventù italiana d'azione cattolica, with the "purpose of disciplining, coordinating and developing sporting and hiking activities, looking upon them with a Christian spirit."

The C. S. I. had a predecessor in the Federazione delle associazioni sportive italiane (F.A.S.C.I.), which, having arisen toward the end of 1906, lived prosperously until 1927, when it was suppressed by the Fascist regime, which sought to monopolize this sector of citizens' activity as well. The C. S. I., established in Rome on 1 March 1944, has a central directing Council and a chaplain. At the base stand the Unioni sportive, parish-based in character, or arising within other Catholic organizations, such as oratories, colleges and institutes. The Unioni sportive join the C. S. I. through the diocesan sports office, and receive membership cards and publications from it. The C. S. I. has particular agreements with the Italian Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.) and with the various national sports Federations. The C. S. I. publishes: Stadium, a monthly of sporting information.

BIB.: The popular booklets published in Rome: Che cos'è il C. S. I.; Nasce l'Unione Sportiva; Statuto e regolamento; la collezione dei numeri di Stadium.

Luigi Cardini