Parma, 7 June, 2026 – It was a day of celebration, sport and inclusion in Parma for the 'Tardini for Special by Progetti del Cuore', a unique event that also this year grew in numbers.

Organised by Parma Calcio together with Progetti del Cuore, the Presenting Partner for the second consecutive year, the event was supported by Crédit Agricole Italia, Conad Centro Nord and Bstrò with the sponsorship of the FIGC, CONI, Lega Serie A, Lega Serie B, Lega Pro, LND, Comune di Parma, AUSL Parma and UISP.

Now in its fifth edition, “Tardini for Special by Progetti del Cuore” took place between the Ennio Tardini Stadium and Ferrari Park in Parma, involving 38 teams divided into the Yellow, Blue and Orange categories. Teams from Italy and several European countries took to the pitch, turning the playing fields into a stage full of emotion. The event, which welcomed over 1,200 participants including athletes and staff, once again confirmed itself as a celebration of football as a tool for unity, solidarity and sharing.

The event was attended by Federico Cherubini and Stefano Perrone, CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Parma Calcio respectively, along with Marco Bosi, Parma’s Sports Councillor, and Simona Placiduccio, representative of the Minister for Disability, Alessandra Locatelli. Also present were Andrea Vaccaro, national CONI board member; Giovanni Sacripante, head of the FIGC Paralympic Football Division, alongside deputy Elisabetta Scorcu; Nicola Simonelli, DCP/FIGC board member; and Clara Simonini, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Lega Serie A.

Among the most memorable moments of the morning was the meet and greet at the Tardini with Edoardo Corvi and Caterina Ambrosi, captain of Parma Women. In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to Parma Calcio legends: Luca Bucci, Luca Mondini, Luigi Apolloni, Marco Ballotta, Marco Giandebiaggi, Marco Labbri, Marco Osio, Massimo Susic, Matteo Guardalben, Leo Martinez and Riccardo Gagliolo, along with president Paolo Benecchi and vice-president Egidio Savi, all of whom took part in football-tennis matches with the Special teams.

The tournament concluded with the awards ceremony. This year’s edition featured special recognitions for all participants, including the Golden Heart Award, Fair Play Award, Stronger Together Award, Never Give Up Award, Joy of Football Award, Rising Star Award, Inspiration Award and Beyond Limits Award.

“Tardini for Special by Progetti del Cuore” continues to grow and strengthen its place in the landscape of inclusive sporting events in Italy. More than just a tournament, it once again highlighted football’s power as a universal language, capable of breaking down barriers, building genuine connections and turning the pitch into a space of participation, respect and shared experience.