ABSTRACT
Fascism from the beginning had a primary aim, that of moulding the country’s youth according to Fascist ideals. Under the influence of a ‘dynamic activism’ borrowed from Marinetti’s futurist movement, 1 Fascism entrusted the physical and political education of Italians largely to sport. The Fascists took control of physical education in the schools, a subject that had previously received little attention. 2 In 1923, the newly elected minister Giovanni Gentile reformed the whole school structure, reconciling it with the new ideology, and entrusted the physical education of the young to a specially constituted organization, the ENEF (Ente Nazionale per l’Educazione Fisica—National Physical Education Board). However, the ENEF was unable to carry out its task satisfactorily due to a lack of sports equipment and premises, of money and of physical education teachers; so in 1927 responsibility for physical education was handed over to the ONB (Opera Nazionale Balilla—National Balilla Movement). It devoted itself to shaping the new generations, enrolling young people from six to 18 years old, whether or not they were at school; then in 1937, it delegated the task to the GIL (Gioventù Italiana del Littorio—Fascist Youth). Political control over the life of the male citizen did not cease when he reached the age of 18, because university students were gathered into the GUF (Gruppi Universitari Fascisti—Fascist University Groups), while other young men awaiting their military service joined the FGC (Fasci Giovanili di Combattimenti—Fascist Youth Combat Groups) or the MVSN (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale—Voluntary Militia for National Security). Moreover sports fans, who were enrolled as members of the various associations, were subjected to the CONI (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano—Italian Olympic Committee), which in its turn, had been at the service of the PNF (Partito Nazionale Fascista—National Fascist Party) since 1926. Workers, for their part, were under the control of the OND (Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro—National After-Work Institute) and from birth children were looked after by the ONMI (Opera Nazionale Maternità e Infanzia—National Maternity and Child Welfare Institute). Over everyone and everything ruled the omnipotent Duce.
