Naples, a city brimming with cultural heritage and vibrant energy, has been bestowed with the prestigious title of European Capital of Sport 2026 by ACES Europe. This recognition, far from being a mere municipal slogan, signifies a European endorsement that should ideally propel the administration to look beyond grand events and glossy posters, focusing instead on the very places where sport is genuinely practiced: the neighborhoods and peripheral areas. Yet, a recent incident has cast a critical light on this ambition, raising uncomfortable questions about the city’s priorities.
The Unforgivable Absence: A Hoop Missing in Secondigliano
The controversy ignited when a video surfaced, showing young people in Secondigliano’s Oasi del Bimbo park attempting to play basketball on a court that, despite having a backboard and clearly marked lines, conspicuously lacked the essential element: the hoop. This scene bears an uncanny resemblance to a prior incident in Marano di Napoli, a municipality currently under commissioner management, where a similar video of children playing without a hoop garnered national attention, even drawing the concern of sports figures like Giovanni Malagò.
The crucial distinction, however, lies in the administrative context. While Marano is under commissarial rule, Naples boasts a mayor, a city council, a dedicated sports department, and local Municipalities. It is a city with a European title to uphold, making the absence of a simple basketball hoop in a public park all the more perplexing and, to many, inexcusable.
Oasi del Bimbo: A Symbol of Neglect
The Oasi del Bimbo is not just any park. For years, it was a cherished haven in Secondigliano, a small park dedicated to children and families, complete with carousels and attractions. During its heyday, the park was meticulously maintained by the attraction owners, who ensured a constant presence, supervision, cleanliness, and routine upkeep. It was more than just a playground; it was a vibrant hub of neighborhood life, a secure and frequented space.
However, this idyllic scene was disrupted. The attractions vanished, the association that once managed the playground was partially evicted, and the Oasi lost its central function. The name and the memories persisted, but the park entered a state of limbo: no longer the lively playground it once was, nor a fully restored public park for the community.
Official Recognition, Actual Abandonment
Despite its current state, the Oasi del Bimbo is not unknown to the municipal authorities. Recent communal records list it as a municipal park within the VII Municipality, featuring green areas, paved spaces, a covered zone, tables, benches, and a basketball court. This indicates that the park is cataloged and recognized as part of the local heritage. Yet, the video starkly illustrates that this official recognition has not translated into adequate maintenance or basic functionality.
European Capital of Sport: A Façade or a Reality?
This is where the narrative becomes deeply symbolic. A city honored with the title of European Capital of Sport cannot solely present its commitment to athletics through official calendars, posters, logos, and institutional parades. True sport, especially in the peripheral areas, begins with local courts, a ball, a backboard, a hoop, and a safe space for play.
The question that inevitably arises is: how is it possible that a solution to such a straightforward problem cannot be found? We are not discussing a multi-million euro sports arena. We are talking about an existing basketball court, an already mounted backboard, and a missing hoop.
Beyond the Hoop: Reimagining the Park
The issue at Oasi del Bimbo extends beyond merely replacing a hoop and repairing the court. This park needs to reclaim its former vitality: a lively, well-maintained, frequented, and recognizable space for children, young people, and families. Various solutions are available: agreements with associations, collaboration pacts with sports and social organizations, partial concessions for routine maintenance, and the involvement of private entities willing to care for the area under clear regulations and open access for the community.
The Broader Problem: The Concept of the Periphery
The cases of Marano and Oasi del Bimbo reveal a broader systemic issue than just the degradation of two local courts. They expose the difficulty faced by administrations in caring for small, local sports facilities – those that do not feature in brochures or fill event calendars, but are genuinely vital for the young people in these neighborhoods.
Naples does not need to invent new solutions. It simply needs to do what any normal city should: replace a hoop, secure the court, revitalize the park, and ensure maintenance, lighting, and supervision. If even these fundamental actions prove complicated in the year of the European Capital of Sport, then the problem is not just the missing hoop. It is the very perception of the periphery, left out of the celebration.
Source: https://www.stylo24.it/napoli-capitale-sport-canestro-secondigliano/
