by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Elisa Lodi, Trieste councilor for public works and sport; Luca Gherbaz president U.S. ACLI APS
Trieste is set to host the second edition of the International Trampoline Cup, an expanding international gymnastics event dedicated to trampoline disciplines, taking place from October 31 to November 2. The competition is organized by Unione Sportiva ACLI APS with technical support from A.S.D. Progetto Acrobatica Trieste, and takes place within the eighth edition of “Lo Sport che vogliamo,” a European EuroWellness initiative focused on promoting inclusive sports culture.
The event was presented at City Hall with the participation of Trieste’s Councillor for Sport, Elisa Lodi, along with U.S. ACLI APS regional president Raoul Bernes and provincial president Luca Gherbaz. Organizers emphasized the dual mission of the weekend: high-level athletic competition paired with a broader program aimed at encouraging community participation, youth engagement, and wellness.
More than 200 athletes, coaches, and delegations will attend, representing regions across Italy — including Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Puglia, and Friuli Venezia Giulia — as well as Spain, Austria, France, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Moldova.
Councillor Lodi highlighted the event’s growth and international reach. “It will be a celebration of sport and community,” she said, pointing to both the competitive program at PalaTrieste and the public sports activities scheduled at Stadio Nereo Rocco. She noted the event’s focus on youth participation, stressing sport’s role in education, inclusion, and community development.
Bernes expressed gratitude for continued municipal support and outlined plans to expand the event in future years. With 20 sports associations and 140 athletes already involved, he said the increasing participation from clubs outside the ACLI network reflects the event’s rising visibility and collaborative spirit.
Gherbaz noted that the junior national trampoline team, preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Pamplona, will compete alongside foreign teams. “It will be an exciting showcase of high-level talent,” he said, adding that organizers aim to continue broadening international involvement and raising awareness of trampoline gymnastics, still a relatively lesser-known discipline.
Competition events will take place at PalaTrieste, with training sessions at PalaMelara, an ACLI-run facility. The schedule includes delegation arrivals and training on October 31, qualifying rounds on November 1, and finals with an awards ceremony on November 2.
Alongside the competition, “Lo Sport che vogliamo” will offer a free, public program on November 1 and 2 at the Stadio G. Grezar and Nereo Rocco complex, featuring yoga, functional fitness, guided running and Nordic walking, dance performances, youth sports, dog-training exhibitions, and workshops on inclusion in sport. Activities will be led by certified instructors and local volunteers, with on-site registration.
The EuroWellness program aims to strengthen Trieste’s role as a European sports hub, promoting athletic excellence as well as health, social inclusion, and community participation. An information point offering multilingual assistance and program materials will operate throughout the event. Outdoor activities will move to covered locations in case of rain.
Admission is free for all activities.
