The 2022 CONI Trophy Toscana - Valdichiana Senese presented. Malagò, 'it's our spearhead, back to normal life'

• STARTING AT THE END OF THE MONTH

The CONI TROPHY, Italy's biggest under-14 sports event, is back. The venue for the Final Phase of the seventh edition of the Trophy will be Tuscany, which will host over 3,000 athletes from all over the country in Valdichiana Senese from 29 September to 2 October 2022. The CONI event - organised this year with the CONI Tuscany Regional Committee, in partnership with the Region of Tuscany and the Union of Municipalities Valdichiana Senese - was presented today at the Salone d'Onore, at the Foro Italico, by the CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, by the President of CONI Toscana, Simone Cardullo, by the President of the Unione dei Comuni della Valdichiana Senese, as well as Mayor of Torrita di Siena, Giacomo Grazi, and by the Mayor of Montepulciano, Michele Angiolini, in charge of the Valdichiana Senese tourism area.

After the stop due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a pleasant tradition is thus resumed with the Italian 'mini-Olympics', which, since the first edition in Caserta 2014, has been the most important youth activity event promoting the practice of sport among young people through the synergy of the entire sports system and with the participation of numerous sports associations.

More than 3100 athletes in the 10-14 age group, together with more than 800 technicians and accompanying persons, will arrive in Tuscany representing 23 delegations (including those from the Italian communities of Canada and Switzerland) ready to compete in 41 disciplines of 35 National Sports Federations and six Associated Sports Disciplines.

Athletes and companions will stay in the hotels in Chianciano Terme and in the Norcenni Girasole Village in Figline Valdarno, while the races will be held in the facilities of the municipalities of the Valdichiana Senese - Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Montepulciano, San Casciano dei Bagni, Sarteano, Sinalunga and Torrita di Siena - and in the neighbouring municipalities of Abbadia San Salvatore, Siena, Sovicille, then moving on to Arezzo, Laterina (Arezzo), Massarosa (Lucca) and, in Umbria, Lake Trasimeno (here is the list of municipalities involved).

The 'Mario Maccari' Municipal Stadium in Chianciano Terme will be the venue for the Opening Ceremony, scheduled for 29 September at 5.30 p.m. in the presence of President Malagò, CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati, President Cardullo, numerous Federal Presidents and Regional Committees, and representatives of local authorities and municipalities hosting the event. The closing ceremony, however, will be staged on Saturday, 1 October at 6 p.m. in the Acqua Santa Park in Chianciano Terme.

The National Final of the CONI Trophy marks the end of a journey started by the youngsters with their Amateur Sports Associations and Clubs in their Provinces and Regions and, at the same time, an opportunity to grow in the name of sport. The chosen formula also favours the composition of mixed teams in individual sports (each team is composed of a maximum of four athletes for each FSN and DSA) and in team sports proper, promoting a confrontation on the field between the sexes with mutual respect and emphasising differences.

It is precisely the format strongly desired by CONI and well received by all sporting bodies. Moreover, it is the main feature of this multidisciplinary event, a forerunner of the gender equality that the IOC aims for at the Olympic level.

The first edition of the CONI Trophy took place in 2014 in Caserta and was then hosted in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Cagliari, Senigallia and Rimini. The last edition, before the pandemic, was held in the Calabrian municipalities of Crotone, Cutro and Isola di Capo Rizzuto.

The event's roll of honour includes Piedmont (2015, 2018) and Veneto (2016, 2019), winners of two editions, respectively, with Lazio (2014) and Lombardy (2017) winning one.

Giovanni Malagò: 'We are very happy: back to normal life. The CONI Trophy is our highlight, where 21 regions, including the provincial committees of Bolzano and Trento, give boys and girls this experience. It is also something more articulated than the youth Games. The multidisciplinary number we offer is something extraordinary. These boys and girls have a different eye for these new sports, and we must try to offer them resources, not only financially. It is also an opportunity to showcase the territory, so I am particularly happy. I think this kit and the T-shirt with the CONI brand and the region's logo will be an important souvenir for these boys and girls: happy to give them this experience.

Simone Cardullo: 'It gives me great pleasure to thank and remember Coni's support in bringing this event forward. Combining sport, territory and culture in a region like Tuscany is the best. I thank those working hard to put the athletes in the best conditions. It is important to understand that Ukraine's post-Covid, energy and war-related crisis is creating quite a few problems for us; I thank all the staff who are doing their best.

Giacomo Grazi: 'Thanks to Coni for choosing us. In the Valdichiana Senese, we are ten municipalities with several political colours, but this does not hurt because we have goals that unite us. We were chosen as the area because we could offer guarantees on paper and hopefully also on site. We are 65,000 inhabitants, we have a great territory, and all participants will be able to experience our Tuscan character. Happy to host and support the many young people who, after a two-year stop, can also resume these activities.

Michele Angiolini: 'I join in the thanks for choosing the Valdichiana Senese. I believe that Valdichiana has invested significant resources in the sport over the years, and I believe that these investments have brought us important recognition. For us, it is a great opportunity, also from an economic point of view: sports tourism is growing stronglyIn addition, it allows us to take stock of our sports facilities and go on to implement sports in our territories. This also serves us to convey the values that sport brings. In addition to the sports facilities, we have environments and paths where you can do outdoor activities: here too there is a great search for tourists, and we focus a lot on this. There is also wine, food, and architectural, historical, and cultural heritage. Everyone attending this event will realise what the Valdichiana Senese is about.

Silvana Stanco, European champion in Trap! In Cyprus, the Azzurra signs Italia Team's first Olympic card for Paris 2024

• SHOTGUN

Silvana Stanco took victory in the women's trap at the European Championships in Shotgun on Saturday in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Stanco led the field in qualification and the ranking matches, but had to come through a tense duel with British teenager Lucy Hall to take gold, with both nations securing the two quota berths in women's trap shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Stanco, an absolute star of the Cypriot event since the qualifying rounds, had also won the first Olympic card for the Italian shooting team at the Tokyo 2020 Games, finishing in 3rd place in the trap competition of the World Championships held in Changwon, South Korea. The shooter, a true tricolour certainty, had also obtained a national place for the Rio 2016 Games. 

'I am very happy with how the race went. I shot well in the qualifiers, but what gives me the most pleasure is to have shot well in the semifinals and the final. I liked it,' Stanco explained after the race. 'We worked hard to prepare for this event, but that doesn't always guarantee a result. This time everything went well, both for my teammates and me. In addition to the European Champion Title, I return home with a very important Olympic Card, the first four-year term for my Federation and the third of my shooting career. I am very happy and satisfied, and I want to share these feelings with my family, the Federation and the Guardia di Finanza, who, together with my sponsors, support me every step of the way.

'A fantastic race by my women. They were great,' commented a delighted Albano Pera, National Trap Technical Director. 'They dominated the whole race. All three in the semifinals, two in the finals, two medals and an Olympic card. What more could you ask for? I am super satisfied because they responded great. They were great.

(photo FITAV)

Marcell Jacobs at Casa Italia Collection: the Olympic champion is ready to hit the track

• EUROPEAN MULTI-SPORTS MONACO 2022

A welcome surprise guest enlivened the already rich evening of the Casa Italia Collection at the European Multi-Sport Championships in Munich. After the national rowing and sport climbing teams, the Italian headquarters welcomed Marcell Jacobs. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic 100-metre and 4x100 relay champion is ready to compete in the most important continental event after the physical problems that have limited his activity during this complicated season. 

Once inside the Casa Italia Collection, Jacobs was shown a video celebrating the feat he achieved a year ago in Japan: applause, smiles and even a veil of emotion for the person concerned and the large blue crowd present. Greetings to colleagues from the other disciplines and then a well-deserved relaxation inside the home of the Italia Team in Monaco together with its staff. Marcell is ready to take to the track.

Inauguration of Casa Italia Collection with the Azzurri of Rowing, Cycling and the Gymnastics Fairies

• EUROPEAN MULTI-SPORTS MONACO 2022

Everything is ready for the start of the European Multi-Sport Championships in Munich. From Thursday 11 to Sunday 21 August, athletes from nine Olympic disciplines (sport climbing, athletics, beach volleyball, canoe sprint, rowing, track and road cycling, BMX freestyle and mountain bike, artistic gymnastics, volleyball, triathlon) will battle it out to secure a place on the podium and perhaps the continental title. 

A total of some 4,700 athletes representing 50 countries are expected for what will be the largest multi-sport event hosted by Germany since the 1972 Olympic Games, the 50th anniversary of which falls this summer.For the occasion, Casa Italia Collection was inaugurated in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in Berlin, Armando Varricchio, who was present with the Consul General of Italy in Munich, Enrico De Agostini.

Casa Italia Collection was attended by the President of the Italian Rowing Federation, Giuseppe Abbagnale, together with the athletes of the Azzurro Eight: Vincenzo Abbagnale, Cesare Gabbia, Emanuele Gaetani Liseo, Marco Di Costanzo, Matteo Castaldo, Giuseppe Vicino, Leonardo Pietra Caprina, and coxswain Enrico D'Aniello, the President of the Italian Triathlon Federation, Riccardo Giubilei, and the Vice-President of the Italian Gymnastics Federation, Rosario Pitton, who led the artistic gymnastics 'Fairies': Giorgia Villa, Martina Maggio, Angela Andreoli and twins Alice and Asia D'Amato. Cyclists Francesco Lamon and Liam Bertazzo could not be absent, along with the Italian women riders Letizia Paternoster and Martina Fidanza.

The 'Casa Italia Collection' format, owned by CONI, will be for the athletes of the nine Olympic disciplines and the Italian delegations in Munich an organisational asset that will combine communication and meeting needs before and after the competitionsMeanwhile, the event's opening ceremony took place in the wonderful Olympiapark. Stilt-walkers, dundu puppets and light effects created a fairy-tale atmosphere and made the eyes of curious onlookers and fans who came to the performance sparkle. German rock band Sportfreunde Stiller rocked out with their new single Spektakulär (Spectacular), and then it was the turn of rapper Marteria, brass band Moop Mama and Marie Spaemann's cello.

The competitions start tomorrow, Thursday 11 August, with the women's all-around individual finals of artistic gymnastics, the women's lead and men's bouldering qualifiers of sport climbing, the men's and women's BMX freestyle qualifiers as well as the track cycling qualifiers and the first rowing batteries. The wait is over: the Munich show can begin.

Nine Olympic sports in Munich: Casa Italia Collection awaits you

• CONI

At the European Multi-Sport Championships in Munich (11-21 August), CONI will be present with the Casa Italia Collection. It is not a novelty but a continuity project necessary to enhance the assets and brand of the Italian National Olympic Committee. It will be a stepping stone towards the Paris 2024 and Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic appointments.

Over the years, CASA ITALIA has developed considerably, so much so that it is now recognised as the sports project that best represents our country in all its expressions, from culture to art and design, from food to hospitality, and from tradition to innovation.

Thanks to the experience gained in the conception, realisation and management of CASA ITALIA, CONI devised the format 'CASA ITALIA COLLECTION' of which it is the owner. This new hospitality initiative provides, in addition to the setting up of the location, the services of planning, supervision, coordination and development of communication activities, including the support and realisation of audio-visual products inside the structure with athletes, institutions and Partners, for the diffusion on proprietary and network channels, the realisation - also in terms of content - of dynamic backdrops in the multiple interactive LED areas inside the House, where the visibility of Partners and Sponsors will be guaranteed, and the creation of 'Casa Italia Collection' branded products.

The athletes of the nine Olympic disciplines (Sport Climbing, Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Rowing, Track and Road Cycling, BMX and Mountain Bike, Artistic Gymnastics, Tennis, Volleyball, Triathlon) that will be competing in Munich can thus count on an organisational asset that will combine the needs of communication and meeting before and after the competitions.

Casa Italia Collection, therefore, will be the venue for press conferences for all the Italian delegations involved in the European Championships. Still, it will also be an opportunity to launch future sporting events such as the European Athletics Championships in Rome 2024. It will be where the medals won will be celebrated as always, thanks to the organisation's technical support and video post-production.

All accredited media, press, radio, TV and photographers will find connectivity and workstations to work in contact with the protagonists of the Azzurri exploits.

Casa Italia Collection will open its doors on 10 August at 6 p.m. (metro stop Olympiacentrum - address: Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 München) in the presence of the highest sports authorities present and the Italian Ambassador to Germany, Armando Varricchio.

Italian triumph in Banská Bystrica with 47 medals. Bertoni flag-bearer for the closing

• EYOF

Italia Team also dominates at the youth level. Less than a month after winning the medal table at the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran (159 medals: 48 golds, 50 silvers, and 61 bronzes), the Italian team also topped the medals table at the 16th Summer European Youth Olympic Festival in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia), reserved for under-18 athletes. The Azzurrini finished with 47 medals (21 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze), nine more than the previous record of Gyor 2017 (38 medals, 14 gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze). The other nations were distanced: Germany second with 31 medals (9-8-14) and Spain third with 18 (8-6-4).

Volleyball dominated the two EYOF tournaments. After the gold medal three years ago in Baku, the boys again faced Bulgaria, who had already been beaten in the group stage, in the final for first and second place. Once again, the final result was a round 3-0 in favour of the Azzurrini (25-20 25-21 25-23). Coach Battocchio's boys ended the event without losing a set.

Success also in the women's tournament. After the defeat in the opening match, the Italian women volleyball players won all the subsequent matches, also imposing themselves in the final for the gold medal played against Turkey, which they won 3-1 (25-12 27-25 20-25 25-21).

In gymnastics, July Marano won silver in the floor exercise, tied with Germany's Helen Keveric, having performed exercises with the same difficulty. For them, a final score of 13,066 while Amalia Puflea of Romania won gold with 13,200. 

Bronze medal, however, for Arianna Grillo on beam. With an exercise rated 12,900 by the judges, the Azzurrina finished behind Puflea (13,366), her second gold of the day, and Anna Laschevska (UKR - 13,000). Third place also for Tommaso Brugnami on vaulting and Davide Oppizzio on bars. Brugnami scored 14,100 and finished behind Reiman (FIN - 14,333) and Zlatanov (BUL - 14,133). In contrast, Oppizzio finished with 13,033, the same score as Great Britain's Crouch, who took silver due to a higher difficulty coefficient of the exercise. Gold for Israel with Dotsenko (13,633).

Athletics greeted Slovakia with two more gold medals and eleven podiums in total. The day's first success bears Viola Paoletti's signature in the 3000-metre race. The young Azzurrina ran a race at a constant pace, always in the first positions and then stretched out in the last half lap to finish head-to-head with Turkey's Edibe Yagiz (9:25.83), half a second behind: 9:25.34 was Paoletti's time, which also earned her a personal best. The third was Spain's Carla Moreno (9:32.07).

The gold medal also went to the women's quartet in the relay race with increasing fractions, a format in which the four women run the distances of 100, 200, 300 and 400 metres. Alice Pagliarini (100), Sofia Pizzato (200), Valentina Vaccaro (300) and Elisa Marcello (400) outdistanced the Polish quartet by just three hundredths, recording a time of 2'11'27. The third was the Hungarian relay in 2'11'59.

In the Judo Team Event, Italy was beaten 4-3 in the repechage by Israel after defeating the Netherlands 4-1 before conceding 4-0 to Georgia.

Given the unfavourable weather conditions, the closing ceremony will be held inside the Judo Hall and limited to the protocol part without the cultural programme. The flag-bearer of the Italian delegation is swimmer Filippo Bertoni, winner in Banská Bystrica of four medals, three of which were gold (1500 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 4x100 freestyle relay) and one silver (400 freestyle). During the ceremony, the customary handover between the city of Banská Bystrica and Maribor will host the next edition of the EYOF from 23 to 29 July 2023.

Italia Team flies to Banská Bystrica, Marano and Borromini Italian flag bearers in Slovakia

• EYOF

July Marano and Vittore Simone Borromini will be the Italian flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the European Youth Olympic Festival in Banská Bystrica, scheduled to take place tomorrow at 8.30 p.m. in the park next to the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising.
Marano, a 2008 athlete from the Civitavecchia Gymnastics team and this year already competing among the juniors at the City of Jesolo Trophy, is the youngest member of the Italian delegation and will have the task of leading the Italia Team parade together with Borromini, the Atletica Cascina athlete, competing at the EYOF over the 3000m distance. The double flag-bearer had already made his youth-level debut at the winter edition of the EYOF, hosted last March in Vuokatti, Finland.

The Italian team, made up of a total of 96 Azzurrini (49 girls and 47 boys), left Fiumicino Airport this morning for the Slovakian city where, with the first competitions on 25 July, they will compete against over 2300 athletes aged between 14 and 18 from 48 European nations. Ten disciplines will be competing, with Badminton featuring for the first time in the programme of a summer EYOF. Italy will not be present in the Basketball and Handball competitions. The previous edition was held in Baku in the summer of 2019 and brought Italy 26 medals, including eight gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals.

The competitions of the Azzurrini of the Italia Team and the opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast for the first time in history and, exclusively for Italy, on ItaliaTeamTv (see schedule), CONI's OTT platform that has garnered consensus by recounting the successes of the Azzurri at the recent Mediterranean Games in Oran 2022.

Banská Bystrica 2022 exclusively on ItaliaTeamTV, two channels dedicated to the Azzurrini's live broadcasts

• EYOF

Italia Team Tv lands at the EYOF 2022. After the rating boom recorded at the Oran 2022 Mediterranean Games, CONI's OTT platform will broadcast live, exclusively for Italy and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Banská Bystrica for the first time in history, scheduled in the Slovak city from Sunday 24 to Saturday 30 July.

There will be two dedicated channels to report on the competitions and successes of the 96 Azzurrini of the Italia Team, who will compete against age peers from 47 European nations in eight of the ten disciplines on the youth event programme (Italy is absent in basketball and handball).

ItaliaTeamTv's schedule for Banská Bystrica 2022 will start with the opening ceremony on Sunday at 8.30 p.m. in the park adjacent to the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising. On Monday, the first medals will be awarded live on TV (all finals will be live on the OTT platform) in athletics and swimming, and the first rounds of tennis and badminton, which makes its debut in the summer EYOF programme, will be broadcast.

Italia Team chosen for Banská Bystrica 2022, 96 Azzurrini competing in Slovakia from Sunday

• EYOF

The Italian team that will participate in the 16th summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival scheduled from 24 to 30 July in the Slovakian city of Banská Bystrica has been selected. There will be 48 European nations at the start of the competition dedicated to athletes aged 14 to 18.

The Italia Team will compete in eight of the ten disciplines present - absent in basketball and handball - with a total of 96 Azzurrini, 47 boys and 49 girls. For the first time in the history of the EYOF, Badminton made its debut. The mission leader of the Italia Team will be Alessio Boggiatto.

This is the complete list of those summoned:

Athletics (28)
Arisi Matteo, Azzolina Federico, Beda Mattia, Borromini Vittore Simone, Camilli Davide, Cervone Latena, Colonnella Pietro, Gavagni Nicholas, Nardocci Marco, Togni Matteo, Valotti Filippo, Vera Lorenzo, Zanini Manuel.
Bernini Giulia, Bertolone Beatrice, Bonafè Sofia, De Noni Lorenza, Di Mugno Ginevra, Lukaszek Martina, Marcello Elisa, Molteni Carolina, Pagliarini Alice, Paoletti Viola, Pezzali Elena, Pizzato Sofia, Rapetti Vittoria, Saraceni Erika Giorgia Anoeta, Vaccari Valentina.

Badminton (2)
Piccinin Simone.
Rauner Carolina.

Cycling (6)
Finn Lorenzo Mark, Toselli Ivan, Travella Nicholas.
Bulegato Alice, Sanarini Linda, Temperoni Beatrice.

Gymnastics (6)
Brugnami Tommaso, Oppizzio Davide, Villa Riccardo.
Grillo Arianna, Marano July, Pieratti Martina.

Judo (12)
Basso Francesco, De Luca Ciro, Errichiello Davide, Felletti Yan, Parlati Manuel, Sansonetti Francesco.
Corbo Sara, De Paoli Morgana, Finestrone Ilaria, Giusti Eleonora, Stoppari Emma, Venditto Aurelia.

Swimming (16)
Ballarati Lorenzo, Barbotti Jacopo, Bertoni Filippo, Del Signore Daniele, Miron Andrea, Passafaro Davide, Potenza Emanuele, Ragani Alessandro.
Bonini Alice, Buzzi Giulia, Dimaggio Alice, Mancini Lucrezia, Marconi Sara Paolina, Pasi Giulia, Principi Lucia, Procaccini Valentina.

Volleyball (24)
Ambrose Ionut Alin, Arguelles Sanchez Edwin, Balestra Cosmo, Boninfante Mattia, Bovolenta Alessandro Alberto, Fanizza Alessandro, Guerrini Francesco, Iervolino Riccardo, Laurenzano Gabriele, Penna Gaetano, Posso Luca, Volpe Nicolò.
Acciari Nausica, Adriano Virginia, Batte Ilaria, Esposito Lisa, Gambini Arianna, Giuliani Dominika, Ituma Julia, Modesti Nicole, Munarini Matilde, Passaro Viola, Ribechi Manuela, Viscioni Giulia.

Tennis (2)
De Marchi Andrea.
Nosei Aurora.

(foto eyof2022.com)

Goodbye, Octavio Cinquanta! Malagò's condolences. Tomorrow a minute's silence in the Junta and National Council

• IOC

Ottavio Cinquanta has left us. A long-time ice sports executive in the 1950s, he was born on 15 August 1938 in Rome, graduated in business administration with a focus on management and marketing, and was a company manager in the chemical industry. After practising athletics, he took up ice hockey and later speed skating. Already in the early 1970s, he embarked on a career in sports management.

President of the Technical Committee (1973-1980), then Vice-President of the Italian Ice Sports Federation (1984-1988); appointed international referee at numerous World Championships and Olympic Winter Games. He was a member and President of the Technical Committee of the International Skating Union (ISU) (1975-1992); member (1975-1992), Vice-President (1992-1994) then President (1994-2016) of the International Skating Federation (ISU) itself, of which he has remained Honorary President since 2016.

He was a Member of the IOC, in the International Federation quota, from 1996 to 2016 (as a Member of the CONI National Council and Board). He took part in the IOC Executive Committee as an International Winter Federation representative (2000-2008) and was a member of the following IOC Commissions: Olympic Movement (1994-1999), Olympic Solidarity (1994-2001), Coordination for the XIX Olympic Winter Games in 2002 in Salt Lake City (1996-2002), 'IOC 2000' (Executive Committee, 1999), Marketing (2002-), TV Rights and New Media (2002-2015), Follow-up of the 'IOC 2000' reform (2002) Coordination of the XXI Olympic Winter Games in 2010 in Vancouver (2003-2010), Coordination of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi (2007-2014), Coordination of the 1st Olympic Winter Youth Games in 2012 in Innsbruck (2009-2012), Coordination of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in 2018 in PyeongChang (2011- 2018).

His management of the International Federation was responsible for introducing short track into the Olympic programme and reforming jury evaluations in figure skating.

Upon hearing the news, CONI President Giovanni Malagò called for a minute's silence in the National Council and Board and expressed his deep condolences to the family, also on behalf of all Italian sport, for the loss of a great leader who had given so much to the development of sport and prestige in the international arena.