The Basilicata branch of the Italian Paralympic Committee have elected a new President, Michele Saracino ©CIP

Michele Saracino has been elected the new President of the Italian Paralympic Committee's Basilicata organisation following the previous President's death in August.

Saracino was elected CIP Basilicata President at the regional assembly at the Motel Park in the city of Potenza.

This followed the death of the previous President Pasquale Paolo Polese on August 14, who had been in office since November 2017.

Saracino has been both a wheelchair basketball player and umpire, once acting as the regional head of basketball referees, forming a large number in the Basilicata area.

He is now the sole national designator of wheelchair basketball referees.

Saracino as also acted as a referee on the international stage a number of times.

Michele Saracino, the new President of the Italian Paralympic Committee Basilicata, has been both a wheelchair basketball player and referee during his long involvement in the organisation ©Getty Images
Michele Saracino, the new President of the Italian Paralympic Committee Basilicata, has been both a wheelchair basketball player and referee during his long involvement in the organisation ©Getty Images

In 2015 he became a regional delegate of the Italian Paralympic Table Football Federation (FPICB), starting "the science of table football" programme in May this year which aims to promote the maintenance, monitoring, recovery and improvement of neurological diseases.

Also on the CIP's Basilicata regional committee is Rocco Conte of the Deaf Sports Federation, Francesco Dente of the Italian Bowls Federation  Rocco Lotito of the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation and Giuseppe Di Mare, a sitting volley athlete representing the Italian Volleyball Federation. 

Basilicata is a region in southern Italy.