PRO/AM Sicily Padel Event

A weekend of padel and solidarity in Grammichele

The PRO/AM Sicily Padel Event is one of the most anticipated sporting and charity events in the province of Catania. It takes place every spring in Grammichele, a town in Sicily famous for its hexagonal Baroque layout, at the Ben&Fit sports center. The event combines the sport of padel, entertainment, and charitable fundraising into a single experience.

The vision and organizers

The tournament was created by Vincenzo Damigella, president of the Lions Club Catania Val Dirillo, who promotes the event with the support of the Grammichele municipal administration. The event's patron and star is Mara Santangelo, a former professional tennis player and 2007 Roland Garros doubles champion, who is now an ambassador for padel in Sicily.

Champions on the court

The PRO/AM format allows amateur players to compete on the court alongside major names from sports and show business. Over the years, participants have included football world champions Antonio Cabrini and Vincenzo Iaquinta, former footballers Nicola Legrottaglie and Marco Iuliano, diving multi-champion Tania Cagnotto, biathlon icon Dorothea Wierer, and television personalities Jimmy Ghione and Moreno Morello.

The gala evening at Castello Camemi

The event concludes with an elegant gala evening hosted at the atmospheric Castello Camemi, an ancient fortified farmhouse nestled in the countryside of the Iblean Mountains. The evening features a dedicated raffle and a charity auction; in the past, even an original jersey belonging to Antonio Cabrini has been auctioned off.

A charitable initiative

The heart of the initiative is solidarity: the funds raised through amateur registration fees, the raffle, and the auction are donated to the Nuovi Orizzonti association and the charitable activities promoted by Mago Linus. Admission to the sports center is free for all visitors, who can watch the matches and support the cause in the town of Grammichele.