A land that is hungry for sports, medals and visibility. A land that is "coherent, generous, capable". But still too often without the right structures to express its potential. This is the photograph of Sardinia outlined by Luciano Buonfiglio, the new president of Coni, who sees in the Island an engine ready to start, but with the brakes on.

"Sardinia can be even more of a protagonist - says Buonfiglio - because it is hungrier than other regions. Hungry for medals, for attention, for a role. Sardinians are extraordinary people: when I say "beautiful" I mean coherent, loyal, capable of giving everything. But without adequate facilities, it is difficult to put these qualities into motion".

The issue is the age-old one of sports facilities. "If we want government funds to really be useful," Buonfiglio emphasizes, "we need to make a real, serious, eight-year strategic plan. Nobody has a magic wand, but with a clear vision we can make people understand that things can be changed, focusing on multidisciplinary facilities and a strong synergy between school and sports."

Buonfiglio does not speak as an external observer. With the Canoe Federation he has built a lively and constant presence in Sardinia. "I come to Sardinia very often - he says - because with canoeing and paracanoeing we have fundamental realities. We have Sardinian technicians who are part of the national federal structure. In Isili, in Cagliari, in Oristano we have also organized international events: who would have ever said it? But it is the proof that this land is ready".

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