In order to turn the concept into a reality, the Vatican in September 2015 invited 30 individuals representing the various stakeholders to a two-day working session in order to come up with a strategy and an agenda, as well as ideas on how to bring the concept to life.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Council for Culture, then brought together a core group of sport and marketing experts to form a management team tasked with supporting the council in terms of strategy and partnerships.
According to Altieri, the vision of the October gathering follows the same one outlined by leaders in the 2015 workshop, who, after completing their discussion, "saw the need to continue their conversation."
The main purpose of the October conference, then, "is to articulate the contours and the content" of this new movement in sports, "and to decide on the next steps."
One concrete step backed by Allianz in particular will be the Humanity Sports Club, which, according to the conference website, is a global initiative geared toward encouraging youth "to adopt the principles of the movement and demonstrate that commitment" both on the field and in life.
The club promotes six fundamental principles they believe ought to govern sports behavior, but which can be adopted by all: joy, compassion, respect, love, balance and enlightenment.
Cardinal Ravasi on the conference website said the event will be an opportunity to join together in facing "the great challenges" of modern society, which are "shared interests for the world's sporting and religious communities."
How to live with respect for all, with an increased understanding of others' traditions and values, how to live healthier lives and how to foster more integrated communities are topics of interest for everyone, he said.
Sport, the cardinal added, is also key for education, since it allows youth to "open up to the trials of life, putting themselves to the test, crossing boundaries, meeting opponents on a fair playing field while striving to be the best they can be, in some sense aiming for the Transcendent."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.