OVER 200,000 VISITORS AND 70,000 FREE SCREENINGS AT THE MAIN EDITION
An event focused on health, set against a weekend of sports, gatherings, and solidarity. At the Foro Italico, Tennis & Friends brought preventive care back into everyday life, offering citizens the opportunity to focus on their well-being through free checkups, screenings, and consultations. Alongside healthcare professionals, champions, and television and film stars, institutions and organizations shared a concrete goal: to make health screenings accessible and encourage people not to put them off.
The 16th edition of Tennis & Friends – Health and Sports concluded on October 4, after three days that, according to figures released by the organizers, drew over 200,000 visitors and saw 70,000 services provided, including screenings, medical exams, and free consultations. These figures reflect the participation in an event that is now firmly established on Rome’s calendar and the demand for accessible preventive health services.
The event was supported by a collaboration between the Ministry of Sports and Youth, ASL Roma 1, Salute Lazio, the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, and a network of healthcare facilities, scientific societies, and associations. This collective effort has shaped a program that combines medical activities, sports participation, public outreach, and a focus on vulnerable populations.
“This edition has demonstrated just how strong the demand for preventive care is when it is brought close to people—free of charge and accessible—and just how important collaboration between the public and private sectors is,” said Giorgio Meneschincheri, founder and president of Tennis & Friends, a specialist in preventive medicine at the Policlinico Gemelli and a professor at the Catholic University of Rome and Temple University in Philadelphia.
The meaning of the project lies precisely in this sense of closeness: bringing specialists out of hospitals, creating opportunities for people to come together, and placing self-care within an open setting—one frequented even by those who come to watch a game or meet a favorite celebrity.
The First White Night of Prevention
Among the new features of the 2026 edition, the first “White Night of Prevention” extended the Health Village’s hours until late in the evening. This decision expanded opportunities for people to access services and encouraged public participation even beyond the usual hours of operation.
The event’s appeal thus continued into the evening hours, with the focus remaining on visits, screenings, and discussions with healthcare professionals. Prevention became part of people’s leisure time, as part of a shared experience that brought health and social interaction closer together.
“These are all pieces of a journey that, for over fifteen years, has been bringing prevention out of hospitals and closer and closer to people,” explained Meneschincheri, referring to the initiatives introduced this year. “The progress made in recent years is not an endpoint, but a responsibility to continue growing, involving more and more citizens and bringing prevention into the settings of daily life.”
A bus to reach those living on the margins
The event has expanded its activities beyond the Foro Italico. Through “Salute a bordo,” a project carried out in collaboration with ATAC, a public bus has been transformed into a mobile medical clinic, with healthcare personnel on board.
The vehicle arrived at the Cittadella della Carità di Santa Giacinta, where the diocesan Caritas provides shelter to over one hundred homeless people. Here, the initiative offered preventive care and services to those in vulnerable situations who face greater obstacles in accessing medical care.
This is one of the most significant aspects of this year’s event: complementing the general public’s participation with an initiative aimed at people who are at risk of being excluded from standard healthcare systems.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri emphasized this very point: “This year, the initiative has gone a step further, reaching even those living in the most vulnerable circumstances—for whom it may be more difficult to access services.” He added: “Prevention must be an opportunity for everyone, in every neighborhood and at every stage of life.”
The Health Village: From Screenings to Education
Behind the services offered over the three days was the work of more than 500 healthcare professionals, spread across approximately 200 stations, with the participation of 85 healthcare facilities and 21 scientific societies and associations.
Lazio Health Authority, ASL Roma 1, and the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation (IRCCS) coordinated the activities, together with the Lazio healthcare network, the host regions, and the Military Health Service.
The services covered a wide range of specialties: cardiology, gynecology, breast health, thyroid, urology, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, diabetes care, and sports medicine. These were joined by neurology, dentistry, otolaryngology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychology, and mental health. There was also a focus on obesity, nutrition, and longevity check-ups.
A comprehensive program that combined health screenings with information on healthy lifestyles and discussions with specialists. In the context of the event, well-being encompassed physical health, mental health, and daily habits.
“Gemelli has enthusiastically renewed its participation in Tennis & Friends at the Foro Italico in collaboration with ASL Roma 1 and the facilities of the Regional Health Service,” said Daniele Piacentini, general director of the Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Polyclinic Foundation. This commitment brings “the excellence and multidisciplinary expertise of our specialists beyond the hospital walls to make early diagnosis, information, and healthy lifestyles accessible to everyone.”
The presence of ARES 118—with its staff, an ambulance, and two tents—provided an opportunity to learn about emergencies. The program included demonstrations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the use of a defibrillator, pediatric first aid, and airway clearance techniques. The Donatorinati Association participated with activities focused on blood donation.
Giuseppe Quintavalle, president of the Italian Federation of Healthcare and Hospital Organizations and general director of ASL Roma 1, expressed his gratitude to the citizens and healthcare workers throughout the regional healthcare system, recognizing their participation as a sign of their commitment to well-being. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between healthcare facilities and professionals in fostering a culture of health that is close to the people.
From Mara Venier to Ornella Muti: the faces of the event
The message of Tennis & Friends was also brought to the public’s attention by the participation of numerous figures from the worlds of entertainment and sports. Alongside event patron Veronica Maya, Mara Venier, Ornella Muti, Paolo Bonolis, Francesca Fagnani, Max Giusti, Andrea Delogu, and Alberto Matano took part in the event.
Among the ambassadors and celebrities in attendance were Myriam Fecchi, Adriana Volpe, Silvia Salemi, Edoardo Leo, Massimiliano Ossini, Matilde Brandi, Beppe Convertini, Luca Barbarossa, Jimmy Ghione, and Roberto Ciufoli. The sports world was represented by, among others, Vittorio Brumotti, Elisa Di Francisca, Francesca Lollobrigida, and Giulia Lollobrigida.
Their presence helped attract diverse audiences to the event, complementing the health-related activities with opportunities for socializing and sports. In the traditional celebrity tournament “Una volée per la salute,” ambassadors and brand ambassadors took to the court, weaving the message of prevention into a convivial event.
The tournament was sponsored by ANIA, BF – Cinque Stagioni, ATAC, Frecciarossa, BNL, and ENI, which provided the prizes for the competition’s top performers.
The Sports Village brought together the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation and more than thirty national sports federations, which organized activities to raise awareness of various sports and encourage the public to participate in sports.
“Screenings are a valuable opportunity to protect our health: they are available, they should be done, and they must not be put off,” said Angelo Binaghi, president of the FITP, noting the Federation’s support for the project since its inception. For Binaghi, the expansion of services and the focus on vulnerable individuals confirm the value of an initiative that combines sports, health, and solidarity.
Youth and Women’s Health
Investing in young people has remained a central focus. The involvement of schools stems from the goal of fostering greater health awareness starting in childhood, through physical activity, education, and familiarity with preventive care.
“Prevention must be a right for everyone, not a privilege for the few,” said Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion. Referring to the project with the city’s public schools, in which thousands of students participate each year, he added: “Young people need to be more involved and encouraged to reflect on the importance of protecting their health from an early age.”
The “Salute Donna” activities, which Meneschincheri cited as one of the highlights of this year’s event, were dedicated to women’s health. This focus complemented the gynecology and breast health programs offered in the Health Village.
Andrea Abodi, Minister of Sports and Youth, linked physical activity, well-being, and social interaction: “The strength of this event lies in having created a space where sports, citizens, and institutions can come together, transforming the focus on well-being into a concrete and accessible experience.”
In his remarks, he outlined the goal of making sports more accessible in everyday life and fostering a widespread culture of prevention, with benefits for both individuals and the community.
Amatrice, Ten Years After the Earthquake
The 10th anniversary of the 2016 earthquake was commemorated at the Amatrice Village, organized in collaboration with the Pro Loco. The event featured food and drink, local producers, and information about the new hospital and the reconstruction efforts.
The presence of outstanding food and wine products made it possible to showcase the region through the work of those who live there and preserve its traditions. Alongside the commemoration of the earthquake, the Village highlighted the community’s services and activities.
Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi thanked the organizers for the sections dedicated to the presentation of the new hospital, the status of the reconstruction, and the local producers. In his remarks, he linked quality of life to the functioning of public services, infrastructure, green spaces, environmental protection, and prevention.
“There can be no true quality of life without prevention and a culture of prevention,” he stated, also emphasizing the educational value of sports for future generations.
Animal care and public debate
The program also included a section on veterinary prevention, in collaboration with ASL Roma 1, ASL Latina, and the “M. Aleandri” Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lazio and Tuscany.
Visitors received information on pet care and had access to a microchip implantation service for dogs. For some animals from ASL Roma 3, the event provided an opportunity to begin the adoption process.
“Tennis & Friends Incontra,” organized in collaboration with NOMOS Centro Studi Parlamentari, was dedicated to discussions on health issues. The scientific and institutional panels brought together representatives from government agencies, businesses, patient associations, the sports community, and civil society, expanding the program beyond visits and screenings.
Institutions at the Foro Italico
The ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 3 brought together numerous institutional representatives. Alongside Roberto Gualtieri were the presidents of the Lazio and Calabria regions, Francesco Rocca and Roberto Occhiuto; the mayor of Amatrice, Giorgio Cortellesi; and ministers Andrea Abodi, Matteo Salvini, and Antonio Tajani.
Also in attendance were Undersecretaries Isabella Rauti, Claudio Durigon, and Matilde Siracusano; the Prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini; Police Chief Roberto Massucci; and CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio.
Representing the healthcare and academic communities were Giuseppe Quintavalle, Daniele Piacentini, and Giuseppe Fioroni, vice president of the Toniolo Institute and the Gemelli Polyclinic. Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, general ecclesiastical assistant at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, blessed the Village.
The event in Rome took place just a few days after the public audience on September 30, during which Pope Leo XIV received a delegation from Tennis & Friends and blessed the project.
Upcoming events
Launched in 2011, Tennis & Friends has, according to the organizers’ data, provided over 500,000 free health screenings and attracted a total of over one million attendees to its events. In 2025, the project received a commendation from President Sergio Mattarella for its commitment to promoting health and prevention.
The schedule will continue in November with stops in Turin and Bologna, as the Official Charity of the Nitto ATP Finals and the Davis Cup. Following the three days at the Foro Italico, the project will continue to bring visits, information, and sports activities to other settings, while maintaining a focus on access to preventive care and fostering direct relationships between citizens and healthcare professionals.
