Community

Community

Our Story

On June 12, 2021, the Sant'Elena football group was created by three foreign students who were preparing for a university tournament. The first name of this group was "Back to football" and it was in many ways a return to sport after the pandemic, promoting inclusion and internationality. In fact, the first members of our association were not Venetians by birth, but became so de facto. Although on a small scale, our association brought back to Venice a healthy and authentic relationship with internationality through sport creating new bonds between locals and foreigners.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the participants who reached more than 500, the non-profit Associazione Sportiva Sant'Elena was born, organizing tournaments, cultural events and the "VENEZIA LEAGUE". More than 130 players from all over the world meet every other weekend in 6vs6 matches accompanied by music, cultural exchanges, and preceded by the "VENEZIA TALKS": a series of meetings to bring new residents closer to city problems.

This sports-cultural journey ended, for the second edition, at the La Fenice Theatre which hosted us to reward the players with a prestigious trophy.

The objective of our association is therefore to show the city of Venice as alive and liveable through sport, culture and therefore health, as individuals and as a community.

The Sant’Elena area, in the most eastern side of Venice, had always been strictly linked to sports and specifically to football. Not only because of the second most ancient stadium in Italy: the “Stadio Penzo” but because of the Venetian people that were using these green public spaces to play sports even before the stadium was built. An oil painting from 1911 shows people playing football in Sant’Elena. Having a specific area dedicated to playing football for more than a century is a rarity.

Our Values

Respect

Respect for all individuals of any gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, origin or social background both on and off the pitch. Respect for every physical place, pitch, public and private spaces used by association and its members. Every act of disrespect of an individual or physical place will be obliged to leave the association.

Kindness and generosity

Since our group was born from genuine and kind people, every member of the association commits to keeping the same belief in kindness that made the association what it is today: a warm and welcoming family in Venice.

Health and liveliness, as individuals and as a community.

Health and liveliness are the main goals of the association. We believe that through sports and culture, every individual can have both a physically and mentally active lifestyle. By creating multicultural exchanges both on and off the pitch and improving the spaces of the city, we elevate communities while always keeping in mind tradition and of course, respect.

Sponsors & Partners