National strategies

In Italy, the promotion of sport and physical activity is supported by several strategies, official documents and legislative measures. The Government encourages sport participation at all levels with the aim of improving the quality of life, while also addressing sedentary lifestyles, social hardship, and urban decay. 

The National Prevention Plan (Piano Nazionale della Prevenzione – PNP) sets out specific guidelines to encourage physical activity, particularly among young people. The plan is multiannual (2020-2025) and is regularly updated.  Among its main objectives, the PNP aims to promote active lifestyles and to reduce sedentary behaviour. The Ministry of Health is responsible for implementing and monitoring the National Prevention Plan, in collaboration with the Regions and Local Health Authorities. The PNP evaluation system is designed to monitor the implementation and generate meaningful outcomes for Regions and Local Health Authorities in terms of performance measurement of: 

• regional and local systems;
• the application of methods and tools aimed at impact assessment;
• the identification and dissemination of best local practices. 

The web-based platform Regional Prevention Plans (Piani regionali di Prevenzione) serves as the exclusive and binding tool for planning and monitoring both the Regional Prevention Plans and the National Prevention Plan. 

In March 2025, Law 41/2025 was enacted to strengthen the role of sport within the education system. The law recognises physical education and sports activities as key elements for cognitive development, social and relational growth, inclusion, equal opportunities, and the personal expression of young people. It aims to guarantee wide access for students to a variety of sport disciplines, tailored to their individual interests and abilities. Furthermore, the law establishes the New Youth Games (Nuovi Giochi della Gioventù), promoting cooperation between schools and sport organisations.

Promoting and supporting sport and physical activity among young people

Italy promotes a range of national policies and programmes to encourage youth physical activity, with a focus on inclusiveness, teamwork, healthy lifestyles, and the social value of sport. These initiatives align with the EU Physical Activity Guidelines and are part of a broader effort to combat sedentary lifestyle, promote well-being, and strengthen social cohesion through grassroots sport.

Led by institutions such as the Department for Sport, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Merit, and in collaboration with bodies like Italian National Olympic Committee (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano – CONI) and Sport e Salute, this coordinated framework includes several key initiatives such as: 

• New Youth Games (Nuovi Giochi della Gioventù) aims to promote widespread student participation in sports through collaboration between schools and sports organisations. Participation may take place individually or as a class, based on criteria defined by each school. The initiative ensures inclusive access for students with disabilities, who may compete in dedicated events or take part in integrated competitions alongside non-disabled peers.
• Gaining Health (Guadagnare Salute) is a national programme promoting healthy lifestyles, especially among children and families, through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity. Among its key focus areas is the promotion of physical activity at all ages, highlighting its benefits for both physical and mental well-being.
• Scuola Attiva is a multisport educational programme promoted by Sport e Salute and the Ministry of Education and Merit, in collaboration with the Minister for Sport and Youth, and with the involvement of National Sports Federations and Associated Sports Disciplines. The programme aims to introduce students in lower secondary education to a variety of sports, encouraging participation and an active lifestyle from an early age. 

Physical education in schools

In Italy, Physical Education is a mandatory component of the national curriculum at all levels of schooling, including upper secondary education (both general and vocational). 

The initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Education and Merit through school-based projects represent an important tool for preventing obesity, violence, bullying, and racial as well as gender discrimination. The activities are designed to:

• Promote a positive culture of sport;
• Prevent early school leaving;
• Support the inclusion of the most vulnerable groups within the school population;
• Encourage the active participation of students with disabilities.

At the upper secondary level Physical Education is compulsory and included in both general and vocational education pathways. Students typically receive two hours per week of physical education.

The Ministry of Education and Merit, in collaboration with Sport e Salute S.p.A, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), National Sports Federations (FSN), as well as Regions and Local Authorities, organises the School Sports Competitions (Competizioni sportive scolastiche). These competitions are open to students regularly enrolled in lower and upper secondary schools, both public and private. Participation takes place through school representative teams, promoting teamwork, school spirit, and broad access to sports for young people. The competitions also include disciplines such as Bridge, Draughts and Chess, which are recognised for their educational value in developing concentration, strategic thinking and cognitive skills.

Extracurricular sports are also supported through institutional programmes such as the New Youth Games (Nuovi Giochi della Gioventù), which allow for broad student participation in competitive and recreational sports events, including inclusive categories for students with disabilities.

Collaboration and partnerships

In Italy, the promotion of physical activity and well-being among young people is supported by a legal and policy framework that encourages collaboration across sectors such as education, health and sport. National authorities promote partnerships between schools, health professionals, youth organisations and sport federations to develop integrated initiatives that foster healthy lifestyles among young people.

The National Prevention Plan (PNP), developed by the Ministry of Health in agreement with the Regions, promotes intersectoral collaboration for health promotion, including in educational settings. Schools are identified as strategic environments for implementing health education and physical activity initiatives in partnership with health professionals and sport organisations.

The Ministry of Education and Merit has entered into agreements with the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and several National Sports Federations to promote sport in schools. These partnerships provide schools with technical and professional resources and help facilitate access to external sports facilities.

In some Regions, partnerships have also been developed with Local Health Authorities to bring health professionals into schools for screening and prevention programmes (e.g. obesity and postural screening). These collaborations support an integrated preventive approach and enable timely responses to students’ health needs.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Merit allocate annual funding to projects involving schools and sport organisations aimed at promoting physical activity.

The Department for Sport also allocates annual funding to support projects involving schools and sport organisations, including through calls for proposals targeting grassroots sport and school-based physical activity. The “Sport e Periferie” Fund, managed by the Department for Sport, provides additional financial support for infrastructure and programmes in disadvantaged areas, including school–community sport partnerships. 

Regions may fund local projects, in cooperation with Local Health Authorities, to support preventive health initiatives in schools. Some initiatives are also supported by private companies, which sponsor sport events and projects in collaboration with schools and federations. Such funding can contribute to the provision of sport equipment and the organisation of events aimed at encouraging youth participation.