Conference "Investment in sport, counter-cyclical investment", the importance of exercise

Investing in sport in order to promote development and well-being. A clear message, given from the business point of view and highlighted by the converging institutional intentions. The unavoidable basis for change drives the country, with courage and initiative, focusing on exercise: it is the common denominator emerging from the conference "Investment in sport, counter-cyclical investment." The round table hosted in CONI's Hall of Honour and moderated by the Director of Sky Tg 24, Sarah Varetto, saw Chairman Giovanni Malagò do the honours in the presence of the Under-secretary of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with delegation for Sport, Graziano Delrio, from the Ministry of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin, the President of CONI Sicily, Sergio D'Antoni, with the participation of the President of the Court of Auditors, Raffaele Squitieri, the President of Technogym, Nerio Alessandri, business economist Marco Vitale, and the Head of New Media and Ferrero sponsorship, Massimo Castiglia.

The lively debate, conducted in two phases, was opened by Marco Vitale, who stressed that "culture, health and sports are three areas where investments do not give immediate results. Hence the mentality that sees these activities only as costs when they are actually factors of well-being". Nerio Alessandri stressed that "a policy should be conveyed that encourages the practice of sport: it cannot be considered a luxury to do sport in Italy, the standards have to be changed. At the EXPO we will provide Wellness as an example of lifestyle, we have created the Technogym Village in Romagna which is able to combine health prevention and wellbeing. The successful model to be pursued to make our country a reference point and to attract tourists and talent".

Raffaele Squitieri has called for reflection on how "reducing investment in sport is an error because it penalises an industry that is a driving force behind a healthier life and one which reduces health care costs, as well as being a sociological reference point". Massimo Castiglia di Ferrero wanted to highlight his company's alliance with the world of sport "because the sector can bring obvious benefits to the country".

The Under-secretary Graziano Delrio then opened the second phase of the debate. "Sport can change the destiny of a country. It is a cost but we pay a high price for inadequate lifestyles. For this reason, in cooperation with CONI we decided to invest in schools through the "Class Sports" Project. Then there is the initiative of a thousand sports facilities in a thousand days, which we will present to the President Renzi. We need private enterprise, European development funds, and mainly Credito Sportivo (sports credit loan): we need structures, particularly in the South where it is well known that there are fewer facilities".

The Minister Beatrice Lorenzin analysed the importance of the benefits of sport for healthcare. "The factors that influence the predisposition to cancer are, in first place, smoking, in second place, alcohol, in third, food and in fourth, sedentary lifestyle. That is why sport is one of the main elements of prevention".

The speech by CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, lastly identified a number of worrying figures linked to physical inactivity and childhood obesity in our country. “The average Italian statistics show that 22.2% of the population is overweight, while 12.6% is in the range of obesity, with a strong emphasis on the problems in the Southern Regions. Not to mention that a sedentary lifestyle affects 42%. The problem is reflected in the physical aspect, because they are at risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In these scenarios, the role of sport as a preventive activity becomes crucial. We are in a historic moment, we have to create the turning point. It does not fall within the CONI Statute but I feel this is my mission. Each percentage point of a sedentary lifestyle that is reduced becomes a saving of 200 million in healthcare. The impact of sport on the GDP is around 1.6%, but we have great potential. We have to transfer the concept of sports culture to 60 million Italians".

Sergio D'Antoni focused on how important it is to "invest in sport in order to have a positive impact on all fronts. And in that sense it is essential to create events to promote this trend".

The closing of the conference was entrusted to the words of the Minister Lorenzin and the Under-secretary Delrio. "Compared to the past, styles and habits have changed. Abroad there are investors who want to come to Italy because we are synonymous with quality. However, we must gain an awareness that improving the quality of life means exponentially increasing the country's development and simultaneously the GDP. What is needed is an alliance between families, municipalities, sports associations, CONI and the Government to bring about substantial benefits".

The Prosecution Office shall refer the boxer Manuel Cappai. Requested a one-year disqualification

The Italian Antidoping Prosecution Office has ordered the referral of the athlete Manuel Fabrizio Cappai (FPI affiliated) to the First Chamber of the CONI National Anti-Doping Court for the recognition of liability for the breach of Article 2.4. of the WADA Code. This is in relation to the minutes entered, over a time period of 18 (eighteen) months, of three breaches relating to information on the whereabouts of athletes due to three "Missed communications" with a request for a one-year disqualification.

Seven months disqualification for William Frullani (bobsledding)

The National Antidoping Tribunal Second Section has delivered the ruling about William Frullani's (bobsledding) double positivity to methylhexaneamine, observed at Sochi Olympic Games 2014 (18-21 February).

The ruling text follows:

"NAT Second Section states the responsibility of athlete William Frullani about the charge attributed to him and, considering the articles 2.1 and 10.4 of the World Antidoping Code 2014 (18-21 February), inflicting the penalty of disqualification for 7 months starting from the 1st of October and with deadline on the 30th of April 2015; Mr. William Frullani is condemned to pay the costs of lawsuit, quantified with a forfeit as 350.00 EUR; it rejects the request proposed by UPA about the application of the accessory economic sanction; it orders to communicate this measure to the person concerned, to UPA, to FIB, to the corresponding Federation (FISI) and to the Association to which the person concerned belonged at the time of circumstances."

President Napolitano welcomes a delegation of golden athletes. "You are the pride of this country"

 The tricolore glistening of Italy medals is always a synonym for emotions, intense, vibrant emotions capable to lighten the stage. It is a pride uniting people thanks to the excellence of Italian athletes, capable to conquer the world. President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, has had the desire to pay homage to sport receiving in the private room of General Secretary Donato Marra at the Quirinale Palace a delegation of Olympic and Paraolympic athletes who won medals at recent World and European Championships, in order to celebrate a summer of satisfactory results and success. The Italian delegation was lead by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, General Secretary Roberto Fabbricini, Vice President Carlo Mornati, Italian Paraolympic Committee President Luca Pancalli, CIP General Secretary Marco Giunio De Sanctis and federal Presidents Riccardo Agabio (gymnastics), Paolo Barelli (swimming), Alfio Giomi (athletics), Giovanni Petrucci (basketball) and Giorgio Scarso (fencing).

The Head of State has shown up at the private audience as a sportsman among sportsmen, that is without a tie: "Malagò is a master of elegance, but today is a very humid day and having also to speak to an audience I rather had the collar of my shirt open. I wanted to meet you to make you feel my sympathy and all of Italy's; we are meeting each other very often because you win very often".
Napolitano has thanked the champions with a few, sharp words. "I thank you on behalf of this country because your medals and your successes are something all of us can be proud of". Armin Zoeggeler, Italian flagbearer at the Winter Games in Sochi 2014, has returned the tricolore flag to the President with all the signatures of Italian athletes awarded with medals during the Olympics. At the audience there were Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallapè (diving), Gregorio Paltrinieri (swimming), Libania Grenot and Daniele Meucci (athletics), Arianna Errigo and Rossella Fiamingo (fencing), Vanessa Ferrari (gymnastics), Genny Pagliaro (weightlifting), Marco Belinelli (basketball), Sara Morganti (Paraolympic equestrian sports) and Piero Alberto Buccoliero (paracanoe). Malagò has claimed "the pride of Italian sport about these great Italian athletes: they are very special athletes, and they must be a role model".

Malagò with the athletes at the Quirinale Palace for the school year inauguration

CONI President Giovanni Malagò has lead an Italian delegation at the school year inauguration at the Quirinale Palace, with the President of Italy attending.

Together with Malagò there were CONI General Secretary Roberto Fabbricini, Vice Secretary Carlo Mornati, Italian Paraolympic Committee President Luca Pancalli, General Secretary Marco Giunio De Sanctis, and athletes Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallapè (diving), Rossella Fiamingo and Arianna Errigo (fencing), Vanessa Ferrari (gymnastics), Genny Pagliaro (weightlifting), Gregorio Paltrinieri (swimming), Marco Belinelli (basketball), Armin Zoeggeler (sledge), Daniele Meucci (athletics), Bebe Vio and Marco Coluccini (Paraolympic fencing and archery, respectively).

The athletes have been called to the stage during Rai live broadcasting of Tutti a scuola, presented by Fabrizio Frizzi, to tell about the secrets of their enterprises after a triumphal summer characterized by Italian victories at European and World Championships. President Malagò has reminded the importance of interaction between the world of sport and that of school, also considering the "Sport di classe" ("Class sport") project recently introduced with MIUR, with the key participation of the Prime Minister Office: "Small champions are born in school institutes. Pietro Mennea was discovered at school and therefore we are in search of new Menneas. School must teach sport. Sport culture makes Italy a winner. Athletes are people who are not only participating in a sport competition but they must be also an example for everyone." Luca Pancalli, CIP President, has underlined the relevance of athletes' victories. "This is Italy that works. Sport school is for a country that can dream."

Carolina Kostner summonsed for a second time on 26 September

The Italian Anti-doping Prosecution Office (UPA) announces that it has arranged the second hearing of the athlete Carolina Kostner for 26 September 2014 at 12:30 p.m. in order to answer disciplinary charges already alleged in the previous notification of 15 September 2014.

Positive Umberto Macale (Athletics), suspended as a precautionary measure

CONI announces that, as a result of the test carried out by the Laboratory of Rome, a positive case has been established. In the first sample analysed, the presence of Clenbuterol-Furosemide was found, for Umberto Macale, member of the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL), in the competition control carried out by the CONI Antidoping Control Committee - NADO, on 9 August 2014 in Gioia dei Marsi (L'Aquila) at the time of the “Stramanaforno – Trofeo A. Panfili” running race. The first session of the Italian Antidoping Court (TNA) has suspended the athlete as a precautionary measure, accepting the request filed by the Italian Anti-doping Prosecution Office.

President Napolitano to receive a delegation of gold athletes at the Quirinale Palace on Monday

President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano is to receive in a private audience a delegation of men and women athletes who have won the gold medal in Olympic and Paraolympic specialities during the last months. The meeting will be held at the Quirinale Palace on the 22nd of September at 4 pm. This is the list of athletes: Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallapè (diving), Gregorio Paltrinieri (swimming),   Libania Grenot and Daniele Meucci (athletics), Arianna Errigo and Rossella Fiamingo (fencing), Vanessa Ferrari (gymnastics), Genny Pagliaro (weightlifting), Marco Belinelli (basket), Sara Morganti (Paraolympic equestrian sports), Piero Alberto Buccoliero (paracanoe). In such occasion, the Olympic multiple champion Armin Zoeggeler, Italy's flagbearer at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014, will hand the flag back to the President. Men and women athletes will be accompanied by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, by the Italian Paraolympic Committee President, by CONI General Secretary Roberto Fabbricini, by Vice Secretary Carlo Mornati and by the federal presidents of each athlete: Paolo Barelli, Alfio Giomi, Giorgio Scarso, Riccardo Agabio, Antonio Urso and Giovanni Petrucci. Next, the athletes are going to move to the Quirinale Square where they will take part in the school year opening ceremony, broadcast live on Rai 1 starting from 4.45 pm.

Prosecutor's Office communication on Carolina Kostner

Antidoping Prosecutor's Office informs that athlete Carolina Kostner has not shown up at the hearing today, as disclosed in advance by her lawyer through an e-mail sent on the present day. Thus, given the documentation gathered and to be received also by international organizations, this Office will agree to a second and last hearing of Mrs. Carolina Kostner.​

New hearing for Donati (athletics) on the 25th of September

Antidoping Prosecutor's Office has arranged a new hearing for athlete Roberto Donati (FIDAL member) on the 25th of September 2014 at 12 pm.​