Master MSDM

Masterclass in Sport Storytelling: Nicola Calathopoulos takes the stage at the Centro Tecnico Federale FIGC!

The workshop for the Master MSDM is officially underway in the heart of Italian football, Coverciano, and our students are diving deep into the dynamics of modern sport communication.

We had the privilege of hosting Nicola Calathopoulos—renowned journalist, author, and former Deputy Director at Mediaset—for an exclusive guest speech.

Calathopoulos bridged the gap between sport management and the power of narrative, sharing unique insights from his celebrated project "Gioco sporco".

The workshop is still in full swing here at the Centro Tecnico Federale, where strategic design meets elite sports culture.

Inside Sport Industry with several important speakers from different sports, countries and with different scientific and professional backgrounds.

Talking about:

- New generations of arenas with Mark Fenwick FIA Fenwick Iribarren Architects / 10N /Egis group

- Match Operations and Event Organization with Adrien-Sartori Carvalho (Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain)

- Pierluigi Zacheo, Dan Reading, Rodi Basso and Leonardo Manzo about sustainability in Motor Sport bringing the E1 Series as an innovative Case-Study (Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James LeBron James Team)

The Master MSDM continues its focus on innovation and future trends tomorrow by welcoming Leonardo Manzo, Head of Sustainability at E1 Series.

In his lecture, titled "Beyond initiatives: embedding sustainability in sports business operations," Manzo will provide a pragmatic look at how sustainability can transition from a corporate social responsibility initiative into a core driver of sports business operations.

We look forward to welcoming Leonardo Manzo and learning from his hands-on experience in pioneering sustainable sports operations.

Alongside Rodi Basso, the Master MSDM will also welcome Dan Reading, Co-Founder of Sporting Giants, for a dedicated session tomorrow.

In his lecture, titled "Sustainability in International Sport: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions," Reading will analyze the evolving landscape of environmental and social sustainability within global sports organizations and major events.

We look forward to welcoming Dan Reading and exploring the critical role of sustainability in the future of the sports industry.

Tomorrow, the Master MSDM at Politecnico di Milano welcomes Rodi Basso, Founder of the E1 Series (the world's first all-electric racebird championship).

In his lecture, titled "From Vision to Ex*****on: the power of Competitive Engineering applied to the Sport Industry," Basso will share his extensive experience navigating high-performance motorsport engineering and sports business innovation.

We look forward to an insightful session and thank Rodi Basso for bringing his unique expertise to our students.

This morning, Gianluca Santaniello, Strategy Director at Olympique de Marseille, held an exclusive lecture for the students of the Master MSDM.

In his talk, titled "Repositioning an Icon. What Olympique de Marseille's New Identity Reveals About Modern Football Branding," Santaniello analyzed the recent strategic and visual evolution of the French club.

Key topics discussed:

- Heritage vs. Innovation: Balancing a historic football identity with the demands of a globalized, modern market.

- Club as a Brand: The transition of modern football clubs from sports teams into lifestyle and entertainment brands.

- Strategic Alignment: How design choices must directly support commercial growth and international positioning.

We extend our thanks to Gianluca Santaniello for sharing his professional insights and industry experience with our class.

The Master MSDM presents a seminar focused on "Sport
Management and Sustainability", featuring an in-depth analysis of the E1 Series case study.

The event, hosted at Politecnico di Milano , explores how strategy, competitive engineering, and business operations are shaping the future of sustainable global sports.

Program & Speakers:

• Pierluigi Zacheo (Strategy & Sustainability Advisor, MyStadium) | Beyond Sustainability: Turning Strategy into Impact in Global Sports

• Dan Reading (Co-Founder, Sporting Giants) | Sustainability in International Sport: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

• Rodi Basso (Founder, E1 Series) | From Vision to Ex*****on: the power of Competitive Engineering applied to the Sport Industry

• Leonardo Manzo (Head of Sustainability, E1 Series) | Beyond initiatives: embedding sustainability in sports business operations

Location: Aula Magna, Building 1, 1st Floor, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Politecnico di
Milano

Schedule: June 12, 2026 | 2:15 PM - 6:15 PM

On June 12, we are bringing the behind-the-scenes reality of world-class football straight to our classroom.

We are hosting a speech for our Master MSDM students, featuring Adrien Sartori-Carvalho, Senior Operations and Competitions Manager at Paris Saint-Germain.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn from a club that has recently solidified its position at the top of European football by winning its second UEFA Champions League title.

On June 12th, the Master MSDM will host an exclusive educational session featuring Mark Fenwick, Architect and Partner at FIA Fenwick Iribarren Architects / 10N /Egis group.

Under the title Sport Infrastructure: Design and Sustainability, the lecture will explore the evolving paradigms of sports venue design, focusing on innovative architectural solutions that minimize environmental impact while maximizing social and economic legacy.

We look forward to an inspiring session that bridges high-level architectural expertise with the core pillars of modern sports management.

Thanks from our Master MSDM's programme to Palermo F.C. Official for promoting these activities.

We would especially like to thank Marco Agria .agria7 (Architect, Facility Manager, and Master MSDM Alumnus) for opening the doors of the new training center and stadium to us, and for explaining the complex management of these infrastructures within the strategic vision of the City Football Group ownership.