100 Years of the National Basketball Team: Milan Celebrates Debut at

100 Years of the National Basketball Team: Milan Celebrates Debut at Piazzale Accursio

Milan marked the centenary of the men's national basketball team by recalling the first match held on April 4, 1926 at the Poligono della Cagnola, in the area now occupied by the public gardens of Piazzale Accursio. Wearing white shirts, the Italian team defeated France 23-17 in a game that launched a sporting and community tradition.

The event organized by Municipality 8 highlighted the connection between sport, memory and territory: historical panels and archival materials from the project "Riparti-Amo Basket" were displayed on the court to promote basketball in local neighborhoods and involve community sports groups.

Exhibits included photos of the historic five, with coach Marco Muggiani and referee Augusto Vitali, and references to figures such as General Ferdinando Negrini, first president of Fipac (Italian Federation of Basket Ball). The initiative aimed to return a piece of sporting history to the community and to enhance Piazzale Accursio as a space of identity and gathering.

The day combined commemorative moments with hands-on activities for citizens and fans: a mini court for free-throw practice in Piazzetta Galvani and a screening of a documentary on basketball history, with exhibition stops at the Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia.

• Travelling exhibition featuring historical photos and materials
• Documentary screening with testimonies from former players
• Mini court for practical activities and shooting practice
• Neighborhood promotion of basketball through the Riparti-Amo Basket project

The centenary focused on participation: preserving sporting memory, fostering social inclusion and bringing new generations closer to a sport that for a century has been part of Milan's urban and cultural story.