Rosario Coco

Coordinator – He/him

Rosario Coco coordinates the Outsport Office at AICS and is a D&I expert with experience in project design, media, and communication. From 2017 to 2019, he coordinated the first Outsport project, the first EU-wide research and training initiative on LGBTI people in sports. He is currently the President of Gaynet, an Italian association focused on media education, and coordinator of the Outsport network, the internal unit of AiCS (Associazione Italiana Cultura Sport) dedicated to international projects on Education Through Sport. He has recently collaborated with the Sport Unit of the Council of Europe as an international expert on hate speech in sports.

 

Andrea Giuliano

Project Officer – They/Them

Andrea Giuliano is project Officer at the Outsport Office within AiCS LGBTI Department.  They contributed to AiCS’ Identità Alias gender inclusion policy (2024). Andrea currently also trains neurodivergent youth in digital skills and online safety. As an author and researcher, they have developed content on DEI, human rights, and public space for various publications and organizations.

 

Klaus Heusslein 

Project Consultant – He/Him 

Klaus Heusslein is an experienced project manager and strategist with a strong background in social innovation, inclusive sports, and organisational development. He was co-president of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) and contributed to the first Outsport project (2017–2019), a pioneering EU initiative on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. He has also conducted research on LGBTQ+ experiences in grassroots sports, combining practical project management expertise with a commitment to social impact, equality, and diversity.

 

Maria Vittoria Rambaldi 

Coach and Trainer – She/Her 

Maria Vittoria Rambaldi is a socio‑pedagogical educator and gender equality practitioner with experience in anti-discrimination, gender studies, and social inclusion. She has worked as an anti-violence operator and conducts youth workshops on preventing gender-based violence. She is qualified Outsport Coach and Trainer and contributes to projects promoting inclusion and equality through sport.

 

Gaia Ciccarelli

Coach and Trainer – They/Them

Maria Vittoria Rambaldi is a socio‑pedagogical educator and gender equality practitioner with experience in anti-discrimination, gender studies, and social inclusion. She has worked as an anti-violence operator and conducts youth workshops on preventing gender-based violence. She is qualified Outsport Coach and Trainer and contributes to projects promoting inclusion and equality through sport.

 

Alessia Cottini

Sociologist and collaborator – She/Her 

Alessia Cottini is sociologist and project manager for communities and sustainable spaces. In my work, I analyse the dynamics underlying the sports system and the gender issues that run through it, investigating how sports spaces can be truly accessible to queer people.

 

Alessandro Paesano 

Media Expert and Trainer – He/Him

Alessandro Paesano is a media expert at Gaynet.it (Italy), where he supports communication strategies and campaigns to promote LGBTQIA+ visibility and inclusion. He has contributed to training and workshops on inclusive language, representation, and SOGIESC topics for journalists and media professionals. Alessandro also participated in the first Outsport project, combining his expertise in media with sport-based initiatives to foster equality and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ communities.