Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The letter that formalizes the commitment to organize the greatest sports festival in the world was sent today to the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, that on 16^th of September will reveal  the names of all the cities that have come forward.

This morning in the Rome City Council, Rome 2024 President Luca di Montezemolo, CONI President Giovanni Malagò and the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino signed the letter that formalizes the challenge of the Italian candidature and enhances its strengths. The challenging path of the Capital begins today. The objective is to build and share a project that will provide athletes and the world "the opportunity to experience the excitement and the Olympic spirit" in a stage of unparalleled beauty. No other city in the world can offer a similar heritage of art, history and culture that embraces such a wide span of time, and that allows to "perform the Olympics in the most spectacular and symbolic venues of the Eternal City".

Beauty, culture, and above all, with the commitment of Italy, innovation and sustainability, are consistent the main guidelines dictated by the 2020 IOC Agenda  that envisage a strong focus on legacy:  the future use for the city of the structures used for the Olympics.  Indications that the Rome 2024 Committee embraces with great conviction next to the equally crucial suggestion of sobriety. Rome, as the letter explains, has many sports facilities, partially in parks and major green areas, which will be used for the 2024 Olympics with minor upgrades and, if necessary, by using temporary structures.

Finally, the letter made reference to the Olympic values, that,  in a multicultural city like the Capital, "where diversity becomes the backbone of equality", can really build a bridge to peace and friendship of all nations.

SPORT@EXPO2015: starry night in Piazza Santa Croce, 3-0 for female Italvolley against Azerbaijan

History, culture and sport. Three aspects of Italian excellence to export to world. As timeless postcards, with eternal charm and a tradition that has become an example for others.  An exceptional theatre, Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, the starry sky of a late summer night, shining over the most evocative scene: "we play under the stars", says the motto of the event, with the sky as the roof of a special and unique frame.

Indeed, during this evening in Florence, female volleyball wrote a beautiful page of sport for the second of the three events organised by CONI and the Prime Minister's Office, in the context of initiatives to support Expo 2015, through a project named "SPORT @ EXPO2015 - Nutrition and sport: teamwork!". The friendly match between Italy and Azerbaijan, dominated by the Italian national team, with an assertive 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-17), was not only a test in preparation for the European Championships (from 26 September in the Netherlands and Belgium) but an iconic event that needs to further publicised, to spread the most beautiful sport image, the winning smash on an exceptional backdrop: the Gothic Basilica, built between the XIII and XIV centuries and considered a real pantheon of Italian artists, amongst which feature Michelangelo and Galileo.  The cradle of Florentine Calcio Storico (historic football) transformed for a timeless day in a spectacular arena.

The team lead by Bonitta, cheered by a packed venue, full of people and passion, won the first set with ease (25-15), without ever giving the impression of being threatened by the opponent's attack. The beginning of the second set was apparently balanced, before the decisive change in gears that resulted in the Italian victory, by a considerable stretch (25-18). The third set reflects the course of the match: it closes with 25-17 in the embrace of Piazza Santa Croce. These are the members of the national team who were the protagonists of the evening: Raphaela Folie (Liu Jo Modena); Indre Sorokaite (Nordmeccanica Piacenza); Ofelia Malinov (Club Italia); Carolina Costagrande (Impel Wroclaw - Pol); Valentina Tirozzi (Pomì Casalmaggiore); Caterina Bosetti, Cristina Chirichella, Martina Guiggi, Stefania Sansonna and Noemi Signorile (Igor Novara); Monica De Gennaro (Imoco Conegliano); Lucia Bosetti (Fenerbahce Istanbul) and Nadia Centoni (Galatasaray Istanbul).

This is the list of the 12 players of the Azerbaijan team: Jeyran Aliyeva, Ayshan Abdulazimova, Polina Rahimova, Oksana Kiselyova, Aynur Karimova, Odina Bayramova, Katerina Zhidkova, Kseniya Poznyak, Oksana Kurt, Valeriya Mammadova, Krystsina Yagubova, Marharyta Azizova. Coach Faig Garayev. The project, called "SPORT @ EXPO2015 - Nutrition and sport: teamwork!" saw its first event last Thursday in Capri with the friendly male water polo match of Italy against Spain, facing the cliffs (Faraglioni), and will end in Taormina, in the historical Ancient Greek Theatre: Italy will face the Rest of the World in a fencing competition, a unique challenge in a setting reminiscent of distant times. The initiative's aim is to conceive and develop, exactly during the Expo period, an integrated project, educational in nature, to raise awareness and promote the theme of "sport and nutrition", connecting the value of physical activity and sport practice with some of the main themes of Expo 2015. In particular, this will be beneficial in advance of the next Olympic Games, which will take place in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

To make all this happen, high profile sporting events were conceived in some of the most beautiful places of the peninsula, with the participation of athletes of world calibre, who will draw the attention of the general public on the featured project and themes.

Malagò and Chimenti in London: the Italian candidature for the Ryder Cup 2022 now formalised

The completion of the Italian candidature for the 2022 Ryder Cup was made official at the Italian Embassy in London, with the signing of agreements between the Italian Golf federation and Ryder Cup Europe.  Italy competes against Austria, Germany and Spain. The location of the games selected by the Italian Golf Federation (FIG) is the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, a Roman Club.

Guests of the Ambassador Pasquale Terracciano and of Mrs Karen Terracciano were the Bid Management Team (lead by Richard Hills), Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI; Franco Chimenti, President of Coni Servizi and of the Italian Golf Federation; Stefano Manca, Secretary General; Marco Durante, Federal Councillor and Bid Coordinator; Lavinia Biagiotti, representing the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, and Chiara Geronzi, responsible for communicating the candidature and event coordinator. For the Municipality of Rome, Giovanna Marinelli, Councillor for Culture and Sport, and Mario Defacqz, Head of the Secretarial Office, were in attendance. At the meeting, also many high profile exponents of Italian businesses in London took part.

Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation, expressed great satisfaction: "We are proud to have received the compliments of the Ryder Cup Europe Committee, which described the Italian candidature as extremely valid. We believe we presented a project that exalts Italy's potential, which can act as a driving force for tourism and the economy in Italy. Through this candidature, FIG aims to give a further impulse to the development of golf in Italy".

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò (in the main photo with Alessandro Castellano and Craig Reedie, President of WADA, and member of the IOC, and in the indoor photo with Gaetano Thorel, Vice President of Marketing for Ford Europe) also complimented FiG: "On behalf of CONI and personally, I express my full support to the candidature of Italy for the Ryder Cup in 2022. It is an ambitious project, which can count on the support of the Government. To host  such an important sporting event in Rome would represent an excellent showcase for the country and would also contribute to increase the prestige of Rome's candidature for the Olympic Games in 2024. Furthermore, golf will return amongst the Olympic disciplines in Rio 2016, confirming its importance in the sporting arena". The Italian candidature, which attracted the attention of the English press (in the afternoon, a delegation of journalists met with Giovanni Malagò, Franco Chimenti and Marco Durante), will be examined by the Bid Management Team and will be compared to that of other competing countries. The verdict will not be reached before the end of October.

Italia Stars inaugurate the stadium in Brazzaville Tommasi: “We are dreaming of the 2024 Olympic Games in Rome”

From Congo to Rome 2024. The “fever” for the 2024 Olympic challenge has risen even in the African Continent. In Brazzaville, capital of Congo, thirty-five thousand spectators celebrated the opening match of the “Italia Stars”, the representatives of the old glories of Italian football (captain, World Cup champion Cannavaro) against the same selection of Congo. The game, organized to inaugurate the new stadium, ended 3 to 3. It was an opportunity to add a piece to the Italian dream to have the 2024 Olympic Games in Rome.

Damiano Tommasi, Italian Players Association President explained, with these words, the presence of the Italian players in Congo: "Our presence with the Italia Stars was an important opportunity to talk about our country. Football has created a bond between Rome and Brazzaville, the city that will host the next African Games. So let's hope to host the 2024 Olympic Games in Rome."

The initiative organized to enhance the image of Made in Italy in the world, has been promoted by the FIGC in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development (MISE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Footballers Association (AIC), with the support of the Rome 2024 Committee, and is part of a broader framework of cooperation between the Government and the Football Association.

SPORT@EXPO2015: great performance of the Italian national water polo team (Settebello) against Spain in front of Capri's cliffs

The male water polo Italian national team, led by coach Sandro Campagna, faced Spain in the basin of Marina Piccola in Capri, winning 18-12. In front of the cliffs, the Italian team played this friendly match in the sea, thus participating in the events planned by the Prime Minister's Office and by CONI in occasion of Expo2015, on the theme "Nutrition and sport: teamwork!"

The Project includes another two events of utmost prestige: Wednesday 9 September, beginning at 8:00 pm, in the evocative backdrop of Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, the female volleyball match between the national teams of Italy and Azerbaijan will take place, while on Friday 18 September, at 9:30 pm, in Taormina, in the historic Ancient Greek Theatre, Italy will face the Rest of the World in a fencing competition, a unique challenge in a setting reminiscent of distant times. For the time being, the competition in Capri was particularly evocative. Spain was the first to score, with Barroso, a few minutes after the starting whistle.  In the counter-attack, however, Aicardi immediately equalised the score. The score was increased by Mora and Giorgietti, but remained nevertheless balanced. It was then Di Fulvio who brought Italy back in the lead. A penalty on both sides did not change the situation: Carrillo and Giorgietti score, bringing the overall score to 4-3 for Italy. Thereafter, two Spanish goals closed the first set of the game with a 4-5 advantage for the visiting team.

Spain increased the lead at the beginning of the second set, but Di Fulvio reduced the distance and Luongo, stronger in numbers, equalised the game once more (6-6), while Aicardi brought the Italian team back on the lead (7-6), all in the space of two minutes. Malarach scored his third goal, but it was Gallo who then maintained the distance (8-7), scoring a penalty that ended the second set with Italy leading by 9-7, even if Giorgietti in the last seconds could have followed suite already from the five-meter line (penalty), but the crossbar denied him the satisfaction of a goal. The third set opened with the goal by Valentino Gallo (10-7). In goal, Tempesti gave his place to Vassallo. On the other side, Aicardi got the score to 11-7. Tiredness became perceivable and some long distance throws were imprecise. However, Gallo did not make a mistake and defined the maximum Italian advantage (12-7). Spain unblocked herself after a penalty and then with setter Carrillo (12-9).  Alex Giorgietti this time did not miss the penalty (13-9). Then Aicardi's lob shot increased the advantage of the Italian team (14-9).  The Italian team then went wild with Renzuto and Baraldi's goals. The third set closed with a score of 16-9 for the Italian team.

Spain scored again at the opening of the game's last set. And then it repeated this twice, outnumbering the Italian team (16-12). The Italian team woke up again with Luongo (17-12). Outnumbering the Spanish, Giorgietti reached the Spanish goal, scoring the last goal of the match (18-12).

ITALY-SPAIN 18-12 (4-5, 5-2, 7-2, 2-3)

Italy: 1 Tempesti, 2 Di Fulvio, 3 Renzuto, 4 Marziali, 5 Giorgetti, 6 Fondelli, 7 Giacoppo, 8 Gallo, 9 Gitto, 10 Luongo, 11 Aicardi, 12 Baraldi, 13 Vassallo. Coach Campagna.

Spain: 1 Aguilar, 2 Bach, 3 Mora, 4 Alarcon, 5 Bustos, 6 Carrillo, 7 Barroso, 8 Flores, 9 Gutierrez, 10 De Lera, 11 Mallarach, 12 Lloret. Coach Hernandez.

Referees: Gomez from Naples and Calabrò from Macerata Campana.

Goals: first  set 1'42" Barroso, 2'01" Aicardi, 2'38" Mora, 3'08" Renzuto left-handed, 4'47" Di Fulvio, 5'12" Carrillo penalty, 5'33" Giorgetti penalty, 5'58" Alarcon, 6'34" Mallarach.

Second set 0'56" Mallarach left-handed, 2'14" Di Fulvio left-handed, 3'29" Luongo left-handed, 4'07 Aicardi, 5'06" Mallarach, 6'16" Gallo left-handed, 7'36" Gallo penalty

Third set 1'26" Gallo, 2'22 Aicardi, 3'52 Gallo, 4'09" Mallarach, 4'59 Lloret, 5'22 Giorgetti penalty, 6'01" Aicardi, 6'49" Renzuto, 7'57" Baraldi.

Fourth set 0'46" Lloret, 1'30" Mallarach left-handed, 2'58" Lloret, 3'33" Luongo, 7'10 Giorgetti.

Notes: in the second set Giorgietti misses a penalty

Pescara 2015: Flag-raising ceremony at the Village with Malagò and the President of the Masseglia French Olympic Committee

The Italian team at the Mediterranean Beach Games was hailed with the flag-raising ceremony, which took place at Palacongressi of Montesilvano, the headquarters of Villaggio Mediterraneo.  During the ceremony, CONI President spoke at length with the President of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) Denis Masseglia, also exchanging views on Rome and Paris standing as candidates for 2024.

"Italy is present with 104 athletes, 60 men and 44 women – said Malagò after the flag was raised - . We are moving towards gender equality, I am confident that in Rio we will be able to even out. This is to convey the idea that we are a significant, important delegation, as it should be. We are the hosts, but above all, we are present in all of the eleven disciplines. Thank you Mayor, and I want to thank also my friend Enzo Imbastaro, President of CONI Abruzzo, who has been willing to support this commitment, along with the entire delegation of the Olympic Committee. I am happy to have my friend Francesco Purromuto, President of the Italian Handball Federation by my side; he recently told me that his sports discipline has the largest number of participants. I am convinced that, once again, also considering our ambition and our hopes concerning the Olympic Games, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy will make an impression, which is of paramount importance, especially in connection with sports fairness, in addition to organizational aspects, thank you".

Rome 2024 runs with "Rome by Night Run"

The second edition of "ROME BY NIGHT RUN", the nighttime half-marathon organized by A.S.D. Forhans Team, will take place on 28 August. The Rome 2024 Committee will attend the race with its slogan #WeWantRoma, jogging along the more than 1,500 Italian and foreign athletes.

The race course will be a single ring-shaped path of 21 km starting from Ponte della Musica, embracing two municipalities and passing through important monumental, touristic and cultural areas of the Eternal City: the Tiber river, Ponte Milvio, the Foro Italico, the Olympic Stadium, the Mosque, the Maxxi Museum, the CONI HQ, Ponte della Musica, etc.

In line with the main elements of the vision of the Rome 2024 Committee, the event is a perfect union of sport and culture that will help promote the candidacy of Rome for the Summer Olympic Games of 2024.

The Village will open at 5pm and the race will start at 10pm from Ponte della Musica.

Anti-doping Office convenes Daniel and Gottlieb Taschler, Michele and Stefano Ferrari on September 4

Anti-doping Prosecutor’s Office set the hearings of Daniel Taschler (art.2.2 of Sports Anti-Doping Rules), Gottlieb Taschler, Michele Ferrari and Stefano Ferrari (art.2.9 of Sports Anti-Doping Rules) on Friday, September 4, 2015 at 10:00 am, following the outcome of the investigations carried out by public prosecutors in Padua and Bolzano.

Mattarella calls Malagò: "Congratulations, I look forward to meeting you all at Quirinale"

The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, called the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò this morning to rejoice for the results obtained in the World Swimming Championships in Kazan. "Great work. I am very glad of the medals and of the beautiful impression that you have given our country. Please extend my congratulations to the athletes, technicians and managers. I'll meet you and the world champions in September at Quirinale ".

Mattarella concluded the phone call giving his best wishes to Malagò for the upcoming world championships of other Olympic sports that will be held in the next month, including Canoeing (in Milan) and Target Shooting (in Lonato), in addition to Athletics and Rowing.

World Championship mixed 4x100 relay teams meet Olympic Quota. The number of Italian athletes qualified for Rio rises to 56

Two more relay swimming teams flying to Rio 2016. The mixed 4x100 relay male and female teams qualified for the Olympic Games during the World Championship being held in Kazan. The men's team, consisting of Simone Sabbioni, Marco Orsi (photo Deepblumedia-FIN), Andrea Toniato and Matteo Rivolta, with a time of 3'34 "59 - ninth overall - failed to hit the finals but joined the group of 12 national teams who automatically reached the Olympic Quota. The women's team of the mixed 4x100 relay also qualified for the Olympics with Elena Gemo, Arianna Castiglioni, Ilaria Bianchi and Erika Ferraioli, who recorded 4'00"92, just 49 hundredths of a second from Japan, eighth and last qualified team of the final.

The Italian athletes who met the Quota to participate in the XXXI edition of the Summer Olympics are now 56 (31 men -25 women) in nine disciplines including 6 individual. Here are the details:

Sailing (10 Quotas in 4 Olympic classes; Laser Radial women, Laser Standard mixed, RS:X 1 mixed and 1 woman, 49er FX 2 women, Nacra 17 1 man and 1 woman, 49er 2 men)

Target Shooting (9 Quotas; Trap 3- 2 men and 1 woman - Double Trap – 2 - Skeet 4 - 2 men and 2 women)

Swimming (20 Quotas; crawl 4x100 relay men and women - mixed 4x100 relay men and women – crawl 4x200 relay women)

Shooting (5 Quotas; Rifle 10m women, Rifle 3 p. men, Rifle prone men, Free pistol men, Rifle 50m men)

Archery (4 Quotas, 3 men and 1 woman)

Open water swimming (3 individual Quotas: Simone Ruffini, Federico Vanelli, Rachele Bruni - 10 km)

Boxing (2 individual Quotas: Valentino Manfredonia, 81kg and Clemente Russo, 91kg)

Diving (2 Quotas: 3m Springboard women and Platform women)

Modern Pentathlon (1 individual Quota: Riccardo De Luca).