The Values of Sport
The University of Pisa promotes the values of sport in full accordance with Article 33 of the Italian Constitution, which states: “The Republic recognises the educational, social and health-promoting value of sporting activity in all its forms.”
For the University, sport is an integral part of academic education and a core value of student life and of the university community as a whole.
Sport and Disability: A Commitment to Inclusion
The University of Pisa is committed to ensuring that sport is accessible to everyone. Students with disabilities find in sporting activity—both competitive and non-competitive—an opportunity to challenge themselves, build self-esteem and strengthen their resilience in everyday life, as confirmed by the experiences of many of our students.
In this regard, volume 5 of the Progetti di Vita series presents life stories in which sport, study, and disability coexist in perfect harmony, each reinforcing the other.
In collaboration with CUS Pisa, several initiatives on sport and disability are currently under way. For many years, the University of Pisa has been part of the SportHabile project of the Tuscany Regional Committee of the Italian Paralympic Committee, and has opened—within the USID offices—the InformHabile help desk, an information point on sport designed for students with disabilities.
Among the various initiatives, special mention should be made of the Wheelchair Fencing World Championships, now in their tenth edition, for which the University makes the CUS Pisa sports facilities available to ensure the best possible welcome for this remarkable event.
The University Sports Centre – CUS Pisa
CUS Pisa is the beating heart of university sport for the student community, managing facilities, courses and tournaments, and promoting participation in the National University Championships.
In collaboration with CUS Pisa, a survey on sports activities was conducted among first-year students in the academic years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The questionnaire Doing Sport with the University of Pisa, launched for the first time in 2023/24 and repeated this year, gathered over 1,000 responses in each edition. Its aim is to collect meaningful data on students’ sporting preferences and habits, promoting both competitive and non-competitive activities.
The results help guide the planning and organisation of sports activities within the University and CUS, enhancing the most popular initiatives. Data analysis also enables targeted actions, ensuring that planning aligns with the interests of the university community and supports new sports initiatives.
In the questionnaire, particular attention is devoted to students with disabilities, with the aim of developing further targeted and inclusive measures.
Rehab & Sport Centre for rehabilitative and sports medicine
Rehab & Sport Centre for rehabilitative and sports medicine is accredited by the Regional Authority to issue certificates of fitness for competitive sports activities. It is equipped with a fully outfitted gym suitable for any type of rehabilitative and/or preventive intervention in the field of sports medicine. It also offers a range of equipment for physical therapy, including laser therapy, TECAR therapy, magnetotherapy, shockwave therapy, and focal vibrations. In addition, it features a state-of-the-art biomechanics laboratory where it is possible to carry out performance assessments, both general and sport-specific.
The Center’s staff includes sports physicians, physiatrists, physiotherapists, and athletic trainers.
FederCUSI – The Federation of Italian University Sports Centres
FederCUSI is a national sports federation under CONI that brings together all the University Sports Centres (CUS) in Italian universities, with the aim of promoting university sport and its values across the country.
It coordinates the strategies and initiatives of the various CUS centres, fostering a shared vision of university sport in Italy through common guidelines, protocols and integrated projects. It promotes university sport not only as a competitive activity but also as an educational, social, and cultural tool. FederCUSI also collaborates in organising and promoting national university sports events, such as the Campionati Nazionali Universitari (CNU), creating opportunities for meeting and exchange among student-athletes from across Italy.
Visit the FederCUSI website
UniSport – Network of Italian Universities
At the national level, UniSport represents a strategic network among universities dedicated to promoting university sport. It fosters joint initiatives that strengthen the role of sport as a key component of educational provision and academic life, contributing to the creation of inclusive and active communities.
Visit the UniSport website
The “Dual Career” Project
Through the Dual Career initiative, the University supports students engaged in high-level competitive sport, helping them to balance study and sporting commitments.
Launched in the academic year 2023/24 in collaboration with CUS Pisa, the project already involves 89 students, confirming its effectiveness and appeal. It is a clear example of the value of the study–sport combination, in which the University of Pisa firmly believes.
Read more about the “Dual Career” project
CRDU – University Staff Recreation Centre
The University Staff Recreation Centre (Centro Ricreativo Dipendenti Universitari, CRDU) offers a wide range of recreational, cultural and sporting activities for its members. It actively promotes sport within the university community through numerous initiatives and local partnerships.
CRDU was one of the founding members of the National Association of University Clubs (ANCIU) and collaborates in organising sport and cultural events at national level.
Visit the CRDU website
