The women's volleyball team of Millenium Brescia, which includes Bulgarian national player Kalina Veneva, joined a large-scale road safety campaign organized by the authorities in the Italian province of Brescia.
The initiative was officially presented on November 10 under the motto "Passa le chiavi come passi la palla" - "Pass the keys as you pass the ball."
The main goal is to raise awareness among young people about the dangers on the road, encouraging responsible driving, adherence to speed limits, and refusal to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.
The campaign is implemented by the Province of Brescia with the assistance of the association "Let's Share the Road of Life." To reach a wider audience, the organizers rely on sports and music, with video materials, educational initiatives, and a special song planned.
The Millenium Brescia volleyball players are among the main faces of the initiative.
"We are honored to have been chosen as the faces of this important road safety campaign. We also accept this as a responsibility," said the club's general manager, Emanuele Catania.
He emphasized the connection between collective responsibility in volleyball and the behavior of road users.
"On the court, no victory is solely the result of one person's efforts. The same applies off the court, especially on the road, where everyone's behavior affects the safety of all," Catania added.
According to data presented by local authorities, 67 people died in road accidents in the province of Brescia in 2025. From the beginning of 2026 until November 10, the victims are 63.
The campaign is also linked to the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which this year is observed on November 15.
It is then that the initiative will reach the volleyball audience in the "PalaGeorge" hall in Montichiari. During Millenium Brescia's home match against San Giovanni in Marignano from the ninth round of the Italian Women's Serie A1, representatives of the Province of Brescia will be present in the stands. The match starts at 6:00 PM Bulgarian time.
A curious and particularly symbolic detail is the name of the hall itself. "PalaGeorge" is named after the Indian volleyball player Jimmy George, who died in a car accident on November 30, 1987, in Italy, at just 32 years old. One of the most famous Indian volleyball players played in the Italian championship in the 80s, and his tragic death left a deep mark on the local volleyball community.
Thus, the road safety initiative will be presented in a sports facility that itself preserves the memory of a volleyball player who lost his life on the road.