‘Sea Without Barriers, was held on the Lungomare di Scauri (Formia) on the 18th and 19th of September 2020, the second festival in dragon boats and rowing regattas, achieved this year too through the contribution of Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale chaired by Professor Emmanuele F. M. Emanuele and organised by the Reali Canottieri Reggia di Caserta, an association chaired by Roberta Reisino, creator of the historical contest between the Oxford and Cambridge crews on the Fountain of the Dolphins for four editions in synergy with the amateur sports association ‘Nautilus Scuola di Mare’.

They rowed against breast cancer, a fight conducted by the ‘Women in Pink’ who managed to transform their condition into an element of personal and collective growth for the purpose of breaking isolation and looking ahead with optimism. Scientific studies have in fact demonstrated that the repetitive paddling movement constitutes a kind of natural lymphatic drainage and in fact helps to prevent lymphedema, a condition that cannot stop us from smiling. A message of prevention, rehabilitation and encouragement to smile and hope again was launched. Rowing is not only a healthy exertion, it is a discipline aimed at health, and the therapeutic healing of the body and mind.

Patronized by the Comune di Scauri and the Italian National Olympic Committee, in particular by the Centro di Preparazione Olimpica ‘Bruno Zauli’ in Formia, the event was held at Lido I Delfini: 200 meters sprints regattas. The disabled children from the ‘Una Scintilla’ association in Naples also participated in the event that exalts paddling. The registration proceeds will go to ‘Komen Italia”, which for twenty years has been in the forefront of the fight for breast cancer prevention.

Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale, with its Chairman Professor Emmanuele F. M. Emanuele, who has always been sensitive to themes that combine sports with projects of high social and medical-scientific value, immediately decided to strongly support such a commendable initiative to the extent of creating a Special Award titled “The Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale Trophy. In fact, social inclusion, health and sports are combined in this project and are celebrated by the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale Trophy 2020 which was awarded to the rowing club (a total of 5 participated in the race) that scored the most points, the Circolo Savoia. In the crews that raced each other in a head-to-head sprint in coastal rowing boats the ‘Women in Pink’ teamed up with the athletes from the clubs.

In this regard Professor Emanuele declared, “I am delighted to contribute, for the second year running, to the accomplishment of this wonderful project, which combines the educational values with a commitment to the prevention of a serious and increasingly common disease as well as to the rehabilitation of patients who aim to resume a normal lifestyle after their illness. In the ‘Ulysses's Sirens’ project the therapeutic value of rowing is coupled with the Boat Race and I shall be delighted to award the Trophy named after Fondazione Terzo Pilastro to the winners, since rowing is a discipline I love and I used to row attaining notable results. Therefore, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to Davide Tizzano and not just for his well-known victories but above all for his inclusive and far-sighted vision, which goes in the same direction as mine.

This year too, the Technical Director of the event was the twice Olympics champion David Tizzano, Sports Manager with a proven track record, assisted by his staff and supported by Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale, even in this important project.