Politics won't stop golf, Franco Chimenti isn't into it. The controversy surrounding the government guarantees for the Ryder Cup leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, but the money to give life to one of the most important sporting events in the world in Rome in 2022 will be there. The deadline for presenting the state guarantee will expire on February 26: "We will certainly ask for an extension that cannot be granted", says Chimenti. In Italy golf is still seen as a game of the elite and Ryder, the pinnacle of all competitions in this sport, has not yet been fully understood, at least judging by the controversies of these days. But the Italian Golf Federation has made a commitment and will continue. "I cannot accept this frontal, inadmissible and unfair attack - says the president - we will carry on the Ryder Cup 2022 Project, an unmissable event not only for golf, but also for all Italian sport". At stake is the country's image, given the enormous popularity of golf around the world.
“I am not giving up – he reiterates – what we have earned by overcoming strong candidacies such as those of Austria, Germany and above all Spain. We asked for a guarantee from the Government, because it was wanted by the Board of the Ryder Cup Europe as a guarantee fund, but the Federation does not need that money, being able to make up for it peacefully and go ahead on its own. We have always worked with honesty and transparency and I can guarantee that there will be no waste in the organization. We are about to sign an agreement with the advisor Infront for 41 million euros and the rest will come through other channels”. Chimenti is a warrior, he overcame the resistance of the clubs against being open to everyone and now he doesn't accept being pushed back into the ghetto of exclusivity: “I'm sorry to read that our sport is still considered elite. In reality it is accessible to all, also thanks to the free membership”.
In a press conference, with Gian Paolo Montali, General Manager of the Ryder Cup 2022 Project, the positive value, also from an economic point of view, of the event is recalled. “The project – claims Montali – has a dual value: economic and sporting and ensures a strong social impact with the creation of thousands of jobs and the defense of all the professional figures who work in the 413 Italian golf facilities. All events and formats related to the 2022 Ryder Cup will offer employment opportunities for young people. The Ryder Cup effect has already produced a growth in golf tourism in the country with an increase of around 20% in green fees from foreign players”.
A study by KPMG Advisory estimates the direct and indirect impacts deriving from the organization of the 2022 Ryder Cup and related events in the period 2016-2027. The resulting figure amounts to 513,4 million euros, 277,4 million of which related to the investments necessary for the adaptation of the infrastructures, to the consumption of the subjects involved and to the management costs of the Ryder Cup event and all the events connected; Approximately 236 million would instead be the indirect impacts, including tax revenues on tournament prizes. “From a competitive point of view – adds the director – there will be major international tournaments over the next twelve years which will involve the whole national territory with 37 main events: 12 Italian Open, 12 Open Senior Tour and 13 Challenge Tour tournaments and around 60 races of the Alps Tour international circuit for a total of about 97 international sporting events”. And then no more golf and money. The right combination is sport and civic education. “Ours – concludes Montali – is a highly educational sport, which gets used to respecting the rules. We want to involve young people by bringing golf to schools and universities as well”.
