The National Anti-Doping Court disqualifies Carolina Kostner for 1 year and 4 months

The Second Chamber of the National Anti-Doping Court, at the end of the hearing held today at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, has disqualified the athlete Carolina Kostner (FISG Member) for 1 year and 4 months.

Here is the text of the disposition: "Given the referral of November 28, 2014, with which the Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office has charged Ms Carolina Kostner for the violation of art. 2.8 and art. 3.3 of Anti-Doping Sport Law (NSA) as in force at the relevant time; Given the NSA in force at the relevant time; Given the Anti-Doping Sport Code approved by the National Board of CONI on November 18, 2014 in force since January 1, 2015 (also known as CSA 2015), where applicable as Lex mitior; The Second Chamber of the National Anti-Doping Court hereby: - Affirms the responsibility of Ms Carolina Kostner for the violation of art. 2.8 of the NSA (art. 2.9 of the CSA 2015); - As provided by art. 4.3.4 and art. 4.5.2.1, imposes on Ms Carolina Kostner a disqualification for 1 (one) year and 4 (four) months with effect from January 16, 2015 and expiring on May 16, 2016; - Acquits Ms Carolina Kostner of the violation of art. 3.3 of the applicable NSA; - Orders Ms Carolina Kostner to pay the costs of the proceedings, calculated as a forfeit sum of EUR 1.000,00 (one thousand/00); - Orders this decision to be communicated to the addressee, UPA, WADA, ISU and FIGS".

National Board announcement

The Foro Italico hosted this morning the 1031st CONI National Board Meeting, which began its work by approving the minutes of the previous meeting, held on December 18, 2014. In its first communications, President Malagò informed the Board on the recent contacts with the Government about the candidacy of Rome for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the upcoming Organising Committee, which will have an "in-house" structure within CONI and an external Chairman whose name will be made official in the coming weeks. Malagò then proceeded to inform the Board about a number of letters sent by Pro League clubs Presidents requesting the convening of an Assembly; the President of Federcalcio, Tavecchio, gave Pro League until February 5 to convene said Assembly. The Board took note. The Board then proceeded to determine and approve the composition of the delegation that will participate in the 2015 winter edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival that will be held in Vorarlberg (Liechtenstein) from January 25 to 31; the head of this mission will be Alessio Palombi. The Italian Federation of Ice Sports (FIGS) was granted the permission to appoint the new Federal Secretary in the person of the Olympic champion Ippolito Sanfratello. Lastly, the Board expressed its satisfaction on the matter of the extension for the application of the spending control standards contained in the ISTAT list for the National Sports Federations. After reviewing a long list of other organizational and administrative issues, and having taken the relevant resolutions, the Board ended its work at 12:20.

Schwazer’s suspension, Prosecutor asks for 6-month disqualification, reducible to 3

Anti-doping Prosecutor's Office (UPA) ordered the indictment of the athlete Alex Schwazer to the Second Chamber of the CONI National Anti-Doping Court for the recognition of his responsibility (art. 2.3 of NSA) according to the documents submitted by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bolzano and to the investigations conducted by the UPA in the field of sports, with a request for 6 months of disqualification starting from the expiration date of the currently active ban (20-01-2016), imposed by the National Anti-Doping Court in its judgment no. 44/12 of April 23rd, 2013, until July 29th, 2016.

On the basis of the cooperation provided by the accused in order to ascertain violation of anti-doping laws committed by third parties, the UPA considers the application art. 4.6.1 of the Anti-Doping Standards for Sports currently in force viable, thus requesting the deduction of three months from the imposed penalty.

Baku 2015 European Games signs broadcast deal in Italy

Baku 2015 European Games has today signed a broadcast deal to ensure the inaugural event will be broadcast in Italy. Leading broadcaster Sky Italia will screen live coverage and highlights across its sports channels, as well as providing extensive coverage on Sky Go. The station has secured exclusive rights in the country and will also promote the Games via its popular Sky Sport 24 news channel to increase awareness and share the excitement of the inaugural European Games.

Mr Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “We are very pleased to have agreed this deal with Sky Italia to guarantee extensive coverage of the European Games in Italy. “As one of the continent’s most successful sporting nations, we are expecting Italy to send a very strong team to Baku 2015 in pursuit of gold medals and glory.” Founded in 2003, Sky Italia has 4.7 million subscribers and an audience of more than 13 million viewers in the country and is considered one of Europe’s most respected sports broadcasters. The company broadcast the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games and also hold the rights for the Italy’s premier football competition Serie A, as well as the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and the European Qualifiers.

Mr Matteo Mammì, Director of Sport Rights, Programming and Production at Sky Italia, said: “The first European Games will be a brilliant celebration of sport enjoyed by the whole continent and we are very proud to be providing coverage in our country. “We are very much looking forward to a thrilling 17 days of competition in Baku and bringing the best of all the action to our subscribers.”

Mr Giovanni Malagò, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, said: “We are delighted that the first European Games will be available for sports fans to view on the leading Italian TV broadcaster, as well as its online and mobile platforms. “This is great news for our athletes and millions of supporters, and I am sure this will help make Baku 2015 a success in Italy.”

Mr Charlie Wijeratna, Commercial Director of Baku 2015, added: “International broadcast sales are progressing very well, and it is fantastic that we have signed this agreement to broadcast the Games with such a renowned channel as Sky Italia. “The deal is another success for Baku 2015 and reflects the continued interest we are receiving from major broadcasters around the world. There will be more announcements relating to European countries in the coming months as we convert the deals we have agreed in principle into long-form contracts.”

National Board meeting take place on January 13

The 1031nd meeting of the National Board of CONI will be held on 13 January 2015, in Rome at the Foro Italico, starting at 10:00 am. 

This is the agenda:

1) Minutes from 18 December 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.

ATP awards BNL Italian Open as "Best Fan Experience" of the circuit

BNL Italian Open received the prize for being the "Best Fan Experience" in the ATP circuit. During the International Tennis Association's Workshop in Monte Carlo, the tournament, which was organized thanks to a partnership between Coni Servizi and Federtennis, was awarded the prize for its many fan-oriented services, its leisure and entertainment programs linked to the sporting and culture world, its care of green areas that enhance the beauty of the Foro Italico and the great variety of offerings supplied by its mall, as well as for its promotion of entertainment initiatives targeted at the audience, especially with reference to the evening format "Ballroom – The New Night Experience", which in 2014 was attended by more than 60,000 young people during its 11 scheduled events. The Director of Operations of the Tournament, Diego Nepi, and the Technical Director, Sergio Palmieri, received the award. This is the second time the roman tournament was awarded this prize, the first one being in 2013.

Pope Francis blesses Rome's bid to 2024 Olympics

"My best wishes to Rome for its candidacy to host the Olympic Games in 2024. I will not be there." Pope Francis blessed the candidacy of Rome for the 2024 Olympic Games, meeting the sportsmen after the Holy Mass for Athletes celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica that closed the celebrations for the first Centenary of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

National Council press release, ok to the Rome 2024 candidature

The 237th CONI National Council met this afternoon, at 15:00, at the Casa delle Armi building in the Foro Italico, to discuss the following agenda:

1) Approval of the minutes of 28 October 2014: the minutes were approved unanimously.

2) Message from the President: Malagò opened proceedings by awarding with the Stella D’Oro al Merito Sportivo (Italian award for sporting merit) the Presidents of Associated Sports Discipline, Leoluca Orlando (FIDAF- Italian Federation of American Football), Danilo Barmaz (Rafting), Sergio Bellini (Bowling), Dino Berti (Traditional Games and Sports), Enrico Costa (Handball), Vincenzo Drago (Wushu Kung Fu), Franco Ferraresi (Twirling), Mauro Gazzerro (Sport Orientation), Donato Milano (Kickboxing), Gavino Mura (Sports Shooting), Renzo Tondo (Draughts), the Stella D'Argento to CUSI (University Centre of Italian Sport), Lorenzo Lentini, to the memory of Lilli Coiana, Cirano Tondi (CONI Delegate in Switzerland). The memory of the people linked to the world of sport who have passed in the last two months was then honoured, with a special thought for Virna Lisi - who died on this day - and the remarkable results achieved by the Italian athletes in the same period were subsequently listed.

Malagò then returned to the announcement of the candidature of Rome for the Olympic Games in 2024, stressing the need to be a "team". It was recalled how President Bach of the IOC has fulfilled the promises, because now the candidature process has different characteristics compared to the past. This does not mean having unrestricted freedom: the extra-territorial nature does not mean that we can organise the event in all the cities of Italy, because this would mean removing the strength of the candidacy, thereby threatening to undermine the efforts made. The geographical realities and logistics of our country need to be considered, but it was pointed out with pride that Italy has taken to the field before the USA. The Italian Prime Minister Renzi, with regards to the dynamics of the candidacy, has spoken of areas included within a circumscribed radius: Sardinia is one hypothesis, as the place for sailing, for example, at the Beijing Games was a two-hour flight from the capital city of China. Gratitude was expressed towards those who would like this dream to materialise. Malagò ruled out that he might lead the organising committee, but he will find a way to support the action of those who will be responsible for this task. It will be a totally different candidature from the past: there will be room for the young, with assessments and objective, innovative choices. Space will be given to new elements, thanks to a relentlessly transparent process. The candidature will be handled, this is the hope, mostly with private money to avoid complaints of excessive use of public money. The President then revealed that he had sat with Raffaele Cantone, the current President of the ANAC (Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority), inviting him to immediately join the Committee, getting an affirmative response although still directly involved with the EXPO project until October.

The Council was then urged to take note of the important signal given by the level of funding obtained from the government but with the knowledge, for the future, of having to start from scratch, with assurances, even with the hope of getting greater resources, without taking anything for granted. Malagò also returned to the extensive guarantees received, always from the government, on the resolution of the problems of the Federations for inclusion in the ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics) list. The award ceremony has been held, a moment of extraordinary excitement, in order to give deserved recognition to those who obtained significant results, and sympathy was expressed to the Jesi Fencing Club for the act of vandalism that struck the gym right after receiving the honour. The CONI Trophy created a real buzz, with the Regions ready to contend for the award in the second edition of the event. The new regulation of the sports promotion bodies was approved, and hope was expressed that this will smooth out relationships between the various situations, avoiding litigation. The President then recalled the extension of the compulsory administrations of the FISE (Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports) and of the Hockey Federation. Three changes to dates relating to the schedule of public meetings already established were then communicated: in February the Board will be held in the CIP (Italian Paralympic Committee), in July Board and Council will meet instead at the EXPO in Milan. Malagò then renewed the invitation to the entire Council prior to the Holy Mass of the Athletes tomorrow, which will be exceptionally officiated by Cardinal Ravasi in St Peter's, with the greeting of Pope Francis to the entire movement. 

In the President's report the following people have intervened: Alfio Giomi (Athletics), Vincenzo Manco (EPS Representative), Maurizio Casasco (Sports Doctors), Giovanni Petrucci (FIP - Italian Basketball Federation), Massimo Achini, Giorgio Musacchia and Ugo Salines (EPS Representatives).

3) F.S.N.-D.S.A.-E.P.S Activity: The Council unanimously approved the candidature of Rome in the Olympic Games in 2024, adopting a similar line of action for the other following resolutions: Extension of compulsory administrations of the FISE (with just the abstention of Gianfranco Ravà), extension of compulsory administrations of the Italian Hockey Federation (with just the abstention of Ugo Claudio Matteoli) and new regulations for the allocation of sports awards. Having nothing else to discuss, the meeting was concluded at 16:40.

National Board announcement

The Foro Italico hosted this morning the 1030th meeting of the CONI National Board, which began its work by approving the minutes of the previous meeting, held on November 18. President Malagò updated the Board on the recent contacts with the Government, also in relation to the candidacy of Rome as host for the 2024 Olympic Games. The Board approved. The President then proceeded to inform the Board about his telephone conversation with the IOC President, Thomas Bach, who delivered some important and significant words to him about the candidacy of Rome.

On the same subject, Malagò then informed the Board that he would meet the President of the Anti-Corruption Authority, Raffaele Cantone, in January. The Board also decided to carry out the regular Board meeting in the headquarters of the Italian Paralympic Committee in March, while in July, the Board meeting and the National Council meeting will be held within the EXPO in Milan. As a result of a long debate, the Board also extended the receivership of the Equestrian Sports and Field Hockey Federations for six additional months, while committing to carry out elections as soon as possible. After reviewing a long list of other organizational and administrative issues and taking relevant resolutions, the Board ended its work at 12:30.

Rome bids for 2024 Olympics. Prime Minister Renzi announces "We want to win"

CONI and Italian government join forces for the most important game: the candidacy of Rome for 2024 Summer Olympics. The Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, who made the official announcement, streamed live by RAI television, also conveyed an undoubtedly effective message. "Italy is now a candidate for 2024 Olympics, with Rome at the center of this project, but we are not going to do it just to participate, in the spirit of De Coubertin: be assured, we will do it to win". The speech was greeted with a thunderous and determined applause in the Hall of Honor of CONI, which proudly hosts illustrious guests from the world of sports: Olympic medalists of all ages, world champions, VIPs and much-decorated sports clubs. A significant cross-section of the country's sport history that saluted the Premier's announcement, made during the giving ceremony of the Golden Collars and the Gold and Silver Stars of Sports Merit.

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, on stage with the Secretary General, Roberto Fabbricini, opened the day with a message of gratitude dedicated to all the members of the great sports family. "We are proud to celebrate such a number of champions, who contributed to show the successful face of the country with their victories and their example. Now, as never before, has this event become so important, especially in consideration of the current anticipations. Today, dear Premier, we have reunited our entire world in a sport celebration for all the athletes that made Italian sports so great in the last season. The Golden Collars are always very much appreciated, even by people accustomed to stand on world championship podiums and to participate in Olympic competitions. Thank you, Matteo: even in this times you have always been very close to our world, and to Undersecretary Graziano Delrio, with whom we have a friendship that goes beyond official relations". Malagò concretely summarized the concept by revealing an upcoming legislative measure concerning the resolution of the problem linked to the Federations included in the ISTAT list. Afterwards, he greeted all the attending champions devoting a special thought "to two of them: Sara Simeoni and Armin Zoeggler. Long live Italian sport". Andrea Fusco, who hosted the event along with two exceptional protagonists, Federica Pellegrini and Alex Zanardi, left then the floor to the First Minister, Matteo Renzi.

"For someone like me, who is quite hopeless at playing sports, being here is truly great. I started playing with the balls in Malago's office. That is the best office in the world, as Disneyland would be for a kid. I would not be able to perform a triathlon like the one performed by Alex Zanardi even if I was in a motorboat. Any new athlete knows that his adventure will not be an easy one: if he were looking for easiness, he would not have chosen that career. Therefore, with that same spirit we will be close to CONI from now to September 2015 to present our bid to 2014 Olympic Games. An application that fills our heart with emotion, pride and hardships. We will have the most advanced facilities in the world, thanks to our Made in Italy. We will be at the forefront of expenditure control for all the technical structures, and we will have a cutting-edge project, obviously focused on Rome. Then, it will be up to CONI and to the technical team to be able to widen the proposal put forward by the IOC. Imagine you can have a range that allows your bid to be reliable and ultimately to win. With all due respect to De Coubertin" continued the First Minister, "we are not making this bid to participate, but to win, and we will do that along with the cities that can help this project the most, starting from the territory around Rome, and then Florence, Naples and Sardinia. The detailed procedures of this will be in the availability of the organizing committee that will be instituted in January, and will be under the supervision of CONI and its President Giovanni Malagò. We will do everything it will take to make this project, that will be voted in September 2017, a project to be proud of. We might not win, we might not make it, and we might give up. It might happen. Nevertheless, when we see that we might not make it, is when we must find a new moment of life, and be determined and ready. You all know that the commitment in every single point is what makes each of us people, and not numbers. The Italian government altogether is ready to do its share. We do not want this to be an unsubstantiated project, made up of large infrastructure and big dreams, but a project made of great people, the athletes: you, who succeeded in winning medals, but also the many unknown athletes, who train themselves in dilapidated gyms in our suburbs and who might not make it to a medal, but who demonstrate with their enthusiasm that sport in Italy is more than a mere activity; it is a way of life, a way of looking at the future, a future made of pride and determination. I thank you for all of these reasons, and I tell you that we are here. I do not know if we will make it. I think so, I am very optimistic, but above all I know that this is one of the best things that we can do, because we do it for our children and for our country". The awards ceremony then began. Here is the list of the awarded people, including 18 athletes, 7 sportsmen, 21 clubs and military sporting groups and a Regional Committee.

GOLD COLLAR

Vincenzo Nibali (cycling), Giacobbe Fragomeni (boxe), Clemente Russo (Boxing), Arianna Errigo and Rossella Fiamingo (Fencing), Anna Cappellini e Luca Lanotte (Figure Skating), Roberta Vinci, Flavia Pennetta e Francesca Schiavone (Tennis), Petra Zublasing, Giovanni Pellielo and Jessica Rossi (Shooting), Silvia Marangoni (Artistic Inline Figure Skating), Antonio Cairoli and Kiara Fontanesi (Motocross), Alex Carella (Powerboat), Assunta Legnante (Paralympic Sport), Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Giacomo Agostini and Alfredo Martini, Pier Luigi Marzorati, Gugliemo Moretti, Bruno Pizzul, Tito Stagno.
Clubs and Military and State Corps S.A: Tiro a Segno Nazionale Sezione di Parma A.S.D., Ginnastica “Francesco Petrarca” 1877, Fratellanza Ginnastica Savonese A.S.D., Canottieri Lario “Giuseppe Sinigaglia” A.S.D., Canottieri Lecco A.S.D., Tiro a Segno Nazionale Sezione di Bari A.S.D., Ginnastica Fortitudo A.S.D., Società Canottieri Milano A.S.D., Unione Ciclisti Trevigiani A.S.D., Fanfulla 1874 A.S.D. di Ginnastica e Scherma, CC Napoli A.S.D., Scherma Jesi, Fiamme Gialle, Carabinieri, Polizia di Stato - Fiamme Oro, Esercito,. GOLD STAR: Forestale, Fiamme Azzurre - Polizia Penitenziaria, Marina Militare, Aeronautica Militare. TROPHY OF CONI 2014: CONI Lazio