Italy’s National Museum of Italian Emigration (MEI) is expanding its exploration of the connection between migration and sports with 2 new videos celebrating SSC Napoli and Italy’s fencing tradition.
Marking the 100th anniversary of the Naples soccer club, “Passione Migrante – 100 Years of Calcio Napoli Beyond Borders” follows the parallel histories of the team and Campanian emigration. On August 1, 1926, Giorgio Ascarelli transformed Internaples into Associazione Calcio Napoli. During that same year, more than 20,000 people left Campania for destinations abroad.
The production uses a suitcase containing Napoli’s first jersey as a symbol of historic emigration. A modern suitcase featuring the latest blue jersey represents the bond maintained by younger generations and Napoli supporters’ clubs across 5 continents. Conceived by Paolo Masini and Andrea Pedemonte, the video combines footage from the Istituto Luce, documents from the State Archives of Naples, photographs supplied by Napoli clubs worldwide, and digitally created reconstructions.
A second video honors Italian fencing following the national team’s exceptional performance at the 2026 World Championships in Hong Kong. Italy led the medal table after winning 8 medals – 4 gold and 4 silver.
Produced through a partnership involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MEI, the Italian Fencing Federation, and Opera Laboratori, the film also recalls the Italian fencing masters who carried their expertise to dozens of countries.
Both videos are available beginning August 1 along the museum route in Genoa and through MEI’s YouTube and social media channels, presenting sports as a powerful vehicle for inclusion, memory, and cultural identity.
