AC MILAN AND INTER'S YOUNGSTERS TAKE PART IN A MINI TOURNAMENT ORGANISED BY THE FIGC

A football pitch, lots of young athletes and a ball. It's all that's needed to play, smile and have fun together.

This was at the heart of the recent initiative promoted by the FIGC - Settore Giovanile Scolastico (School Youth Sector), with AC Milan and Inter’s U12s getting together to take part in a mini mixed team tournament to promote some of sport's key values: inclusion, respect and sociability.

The activities were carried out at the Federal Technical Centre in Casnate con Bernate, in the province of Como, where, for the young Rossoneri and Nerazzurri, colours didn't matter.

The event, which took place in front of representatives from the FIGC, AC Milan and Inter, forms part of the Italian Football Federation's #UnitiDagliStessiColori (#UnitedByTheSameColours) anti-discrimination campaign. This was launched last year on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was established by the UN in 1966 and is observed annually on 21 March.

The initiative in Casnate was a true celebration of sport and served to educate: everyone won because it was all about being together, irrespective of the team the players belonged to and their place of origin. This is football, a sport that knows how to unite and entertain as opposed to dividing and creating tensions, with the FIGC and the two clubs wholly committed to ensuring that young people can pursue their dreams free from all forms of discrimination.

At the end of the tournament, all the players, accompanied by their parents, took part in a third half, spending time together in a display of conviviality.