Gianluca Zucchelli

Written By Dominic Johnson (TEDxRTW)
 
 

Dream stronger: the making of the Subbuteo 2024 World Cup

Gianluca is a Head of Operations with Together for Mental Wellbeing UK and a trustee for YMCA DLG. Before moving into health and social care, he worked as a journalist in Italy and the UK, maintaining a constant focus on community life. He’s a board member of the English Subbuteo Association and one of the organiser of the 2024 Subbuteo World Cup played in Tunbridge Wells.

Gianluca, we’re so excited to have you speaking at TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells. Can you tell us a little bit about your idea that changes everything?

The idea is that the biggest gift you can give yourself - and those around you - is doing that thing that would have made you happy when you were 13 years old. And in your imagination look back at that child and tell him: we have done it! I never betrayed you, your dreams are mine, you are still with me.

What was the main motivation for giving a TEDx talk? I would like to inspire others to get out of their comfort zone, find a group of friends and build a community based on a shared passion.

How does your talk fit in with our 2025 event theme “Next Steps”? Details here…

My talk is a reflection of a journey from a childhood passion to the adult rediscovery of a world made of camaraderie and a bit of suspension of disbelief that allow very different people to spend lots of time together, learning from each other or simply enjoying each other's company. We take care of each other and we value our community’s future, therefore the narrative about next steps is a key part of our conversations.

What is the one thing you want the audience to take away from your TEDx talk? As the composer Gustav Mahler said, tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire! Sharing a passion can bring people together and inspire them to achieve the unthinkable.

What are some of your favourite TED or TEDx talks?

TEdX: Cormac Russell (community development), Ernesto Sirolli (Shut up and listen!).

And lastly, as a local resident, what do you love most about Tunbridge Wells?

I am not a local resident but a pilgrim in Tunbridge Wells as it is the birthplace of the game I love with so many fantastic memories. In 2022 at the event celebrating the 75th anniversary of Subbuteo we asked residents to put a dot on a Tunbridge Wells map to mark where the little plastic men were produced. Given that the business model was based on working from home, in two hours the map was dotted all over making it alive and… flicking!

Dominic Johnson (TEDxRTW)
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Dr Julian Abel