Renzi meets the Italian female volleyball team "Thank you on behalf of the whole country". Malagò "You are winners even without a medal"

The Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, welcomed today in Palazzo Chigi a delegation of the women's national volleyball team that earned the fourth place in the Volleyball Women's World Championship held last month in Italy. Along with the athletes and their coach, Marco Bonitta, the meeting was attended by the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and the President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Carlo Magri, the Secretary-General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, and the Deputy Secretary-General, Carlo Mornati.

"I would like to thank you on behalf of the whole country, you made us all proud, and even if you didn't earn a medal, that we hope you'll earn the next time, you attained another medal: the medal of affection, gratitude and emotion". These were the first words that the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, addressed to the attending women athletes: Sara Bonifacio, Paola Cardullo, Cristina Chirichella, Valentina Diouf, Paola Egonu, Raphaela Folie, Ofelia Malinov, Noemi Signorile and the captain, Francesca Piccinini.

"I would also like to say to the President of CONI that if our dreams on the future of sport in Italy will become a reality, I think that a great share of the merit should be attributed to volleyball and to these girl's skills", added Matteo Renzi addressing President Malagò.

The Prime Minister, during his short speech directed to the delegation, expressed his "gratitude for the extraordinary performance during the World Championship". "Watching these girls play was a great thrill – he continued – Usually, we have this kind of speech after a victory, but the main message that got across was about the outstanding beauty of an ever-growing performance. Unfortunately, the semi-finals did not go well, but that's the way sport is. Nevertheless, Bonitta did impart great motivation".

 "You broke a taboo, debunked the myth that you can only be a winner if you obtain a medal – said President Malagò – I understand your regret in not taking the podium, but we'll see it as our target in view of Rio 2016".

National Board meeting take place on November 18

The 1029nd meeting of the National Board of CONI will be held on 18 November 2014, in Rome at the Foro Italico, starting at 10 a.m. 

This is the agenda:

1) Minutes from 28 October 2014

2) Notifications from the President

3) Olympic and High Level Activities

4) National Sports Federation Activities - Associated Sport Disciplines - Sports Promotion Bodies - Anti-Doping Activities

5) Territorial Organisations

6) CONI-Coni Servizi Spa Relations

7) Administrative Affairs

8) Miscellaneous and proposals of National Board members.

Alex Schwazer's hearing at the Prosecutor's Office postponed to November 20

CONI Anti-doping Prosecutor's Office, granting the request presented today by Alex Schwazer's defence lawyer, announces that it has delayed the convocation of the athlete to November 20, at 12 am without any further exemption, to answer on the subject of the already disputed disciplinary charges.

Malagò meets Bach: a glance into the future

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, met the IOC President Thomas Bach this morning in Bangkok. The event was also attended by the Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, and the General Director of IOC, Cristophe De Kepper.

The meeting lasted 45 minutes and was primarily focused on international politics matters, in view of the IOC Extraordinary Session that will be held in Monaco on December 8 and 9. After greeting him on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, the President of CONI informed Bach about the contents of the last meeting with the Prime Minister, held on Tuesday morning.

In view of a possible bid for the Olympic Games of 2024, the Italian National Olympic Committee looks forward to the results of the works in Monte Carlo and the discussion on the "Agenda 2020", which may include new scenarios and new opportunities for future Olympics bids. Finally, the President Malagò invited President Bach to the Sportsmen's Mass that will be held on December 19 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; after the Mass, Pope Francesco will meet with the Italian sports representatives.

Fabbricini signs a cooperation agreement with Qatar

The Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, signed a cooperation agreement with the Qatar Olympic Committee this morning in Bangkok. The agreement was signed during a ceremony on the side-lines of the World Olympic Committees (ACNO) underway in the Thai capital. The protocol was signed by the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The Deputy Secretary General of CONI, Carlo Mornati, and the Ambassador of Qatar to Thailand, Jaipur Al Dossery were also attending.

Among the main points of the agreement, the reciprocal relationships in view of the Summer Olympic Games and the development of areas of common interest. The two Olympic Committees will undertake to develop exchanges between athletes and to promote the exchange of experiences among coaches, doctors, managers and experts, through participation in seminars, courses and shared experiences.

Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah re-elected President of the Association of National Olympic Committees

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was re-elected President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ACNO) this morning in Bangkok. The Sheikh, who is also a member of the IOC Executive, was the sole candidate. During the ACNO Assembly, the President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and IOC member, the Irish Patrick J. Hickey, was also elected First Vice President of ACNO. Both votes took place by acclamation.

Malagò: good decision to keep sports facilities outside of the Stability Pact

"I am very happy with the decision of the Parliament to bring sports facilities outside of the Stability Pact. It was a commitment agreed with the government - in particular with Undersecretary Graziano Delrio - in recent months, aimed to make an important change in the industry that might otherwise have been severely impacted."

This were the words of the President of CONI Giovanni Malagò, who is currently in Bangkok to attend the World Assembly of National Olympic Committees, after learning the news that the Senate has finally approved the enactment of the Decree Law of September 12th, 2014 n. 133 (the so-called "Unlock Italy" Decree), which contains important exclusions from the constraints of the Stability Pact for the local authorities (paragraph 3 of Art. 4) in the field of school buildings, sports facilities, hydro-geological upheaval prevention and road safety.

Malagò to meet Bach tomorrow

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, will meet IOC President Thomas Bach tomorrow morning in Bangkok.

Malagò will inform the world's biggest sports authority on the contents of his recent meeting held at Palazzo Chigi with the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi.

Malagò and Coe sign MoU

The President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, and the Chairman of the British Olympic Committee, Sebastian Coe, after meeting today in Bangkok, where tomorrow will begin the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees World (ACNO), signed an agreement for a technical and scientific cooperation between the Olympic Committee and the BOA (British Olympic Association) in accordance with the Olympic spirit and the principles that characterise it.

The agreement aims to establish a mutual relationship and to develop areas of common interest in view of the Summer and the Winter Olympics. The two Olympic Committees will be committed to develop reciprocal exchanges between athletes and to promote this experience exchange also among coaches, managers and experts through participation in seminars, courses and shared experiences. The BOA will especially provide assistance within several summer disciplines (including Athletics, Track Cycling, golf, fencing, archery, shooting, triathlon and sailing), while CONI will endeavour to ensure similar commitment to Winter Games-related sports (Bob, Curling, Freestyle, Speed Skating, Short Track, Snowboarding, Skeleton).

The Letter of Intent reads as follows

Malagò meets Renzi: Prime Minister will be at CONI on December 15 for the Golden Collars

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, met the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi this morning at Palazzo Chigi. A series of national and international sporting issues were discussed during the meeting in view of the forthcoming institutional duties of the President: Malagò will be in Bangkok for the World Assembly of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) tomorrow, will participate in the Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in Baku on November 20, and will be in Monte Carlo for the IOC Extraordinary Session from December 7. At the end of the interview, the Prime Minister Renzi has confirmed his presence at the traditional ceremony of the Golden Collars to be held at CONI Hall of Honor on December 15.