Sport Clubs in Italy

In a similar way to many other European countries, Italy has developed a dynamic and efficient sport system. Especially in top-elite sport it represents one of the most successful nations in terms of Olympic medals and victories in international competitions. Since the establishment of the Italian Republic, after the end of the Second World War and the collapse of the Fascist regime, the Italian sport system has taken on uncommon and specific features. The peculiar role played by the Italian Olympic Committee along with the distinctive features of some of the actors operating in the system—like for instance the Sport Promotion Bodies representing some of the most innovative experiences of sport for all organisations in Europe—has defined an almost unique form and an interesting field of investigation. The paper aims to explain the main features of the Italian sport system and its distinctive characteristics through a detailed analysis of one of its important components: sport clubs. To this aim, after a socio-diachronic analysis of the Italian sport system, a detailed description of the main features and the role of sport clubs in the Italian society are proposed. Finally, as an important case study, the main results of a 4 year action-research project carried out with the sport club Polisportiva Giovanni Masi are described in detail.