Playoff finals, Italy national women's football team will aim for World qualification against Netherlands in Verona tomorrow

Ninety minutes to secure a place at Canada 2015 and play in the final stage of a World Cup again, fifteen years after USA '99. Tomorrow at 20:30 at the "Bentegodi" Stadium in Verona the national women's football team faces the Netherlands in the second leg of the finals of the World playoffs. The Federal President, Carlo Tavecchio, and the new President of the National Amateur League, Felice Belloli, will also attend the match and will cheer on the “Azzurre” in a match that will have a particular flavour for the four girls who play in AGSM Verona: Patrizia Panico, Melania Gabbiadini, Cecilia Salvai and Federica Di Criscio.

The first leg ended 1-1 thanks to a beautiful goal scored by Melania Gabbiadini: "The audience must cheer and support us with everything they've got – this is the call of the forward - because anything could happen after our draw at The Hague". Italy will rely on the experience of Patrizia Panico, that can boast more than 200 appearances in the National team: "We expect a tough game from the competitive point of view – she warns - they will surely begin to press on the accelerator immediately and we will have to be careful not to repeat the same mistakes of the first leg. We will have to fight for every ball as if it were our last".

Experience is essential, but to be able to fly to Canada we will also need a good dose of enthusiasm. Like the enthusiasm of Cecilia Salvai and Federica Di Criscio, both born in 1993, the present and future of the Italian defence: "This time - emphasizes Salvai - we have the advantage of playing at home. We want to win, to score first, even more than one goal. We will not simply defend the previous draw." "The Netherlands - reiterates Di Criscio - is a very strong team. We will have to take the field while being aware of our strength, believe in it, and play to win."

Presented the book "L'Oro di Scampia", the story of Giovanni Maddaloni. Malagò: "A giant in life"

A ray of sun that makes its way through the clouds of negativity and prejudice, to contrast degradation and violence with the example promoted by a meeting place dedicated to sport. The scenario outlined in the passionate pages of "L'Oro di Scampia", the autobiographical book written by Giovanni Maddaloni in collaboration with Marco Caiazzo, tells the incredible stories of lives and activities that revolve around the judo gym managed by the "Master", that offers free classes to all the underprivileged children of the district of Vele.

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and the Secretary General, Roberto Fabbricini, wanted to attend the event, held at the Hall of Honor in the presence - among others – of the President of FIJLKAM, Domenico Falcone, and Mrs. Marina, widow of the historic President of the Federation, Matteo Pellicone.The brief discussion was moderated by the Director of Rai Sport, Carlo Paris, with the participation of the author's son, Giuseppe Maddaloni, Olympian in Sydney (2000), of Vincenzo D'Onofrio, Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate of Naples, and Monsignor Andrea Celli, Director of the Legal Office of the Vicariate of Rome.

Malagò, who visited that same gym in Scampia during one of the first public appearances as President of CONI, wanted to address his sincere encouragement to Maddaloni. "Maddaloni is a quite unique example of a person who, as a bastion against the degradation and lawlessness, received the gift of having a child who won an Olympic gold medal. Giovanni is a giant, he knows how much I care about him and I am glad that through this book he was able to tell a wide audience all those stories that have characterized his work in recent years. We will meet Matteo Renzi together a few minutes before the Golden Collars: the Prime Minister specifically asked for this, because he understood that we are talking about a man who deserves special attention."

He, the master, thanks affectionately. "In this book are my dreams, my sufferings, my social and sporting victories. I would like to thank President Malagò, a good person who has always helped me. I told him about my project of the Citadel of Sports in Scampia. It is my dream, and thanks to God, it will soon be created. We are experiencing a moment in which good people are taking over. I understood it after the election of Pope Francis." His son, Pino, argues with sincerity: "My father was always told he was a fool. Local politicians and friends never took him seriously, but now we are here, at CONI. I hope his citadel of sport becomes a reality as it will help many kids to take the right path." The event was also attended by the former mayor of Naples and President of the Campania Region, Antonio Bassolino.

Towards Baku 2015: the sentences of Bach and Malagò

The Baku 2015 European Games is shaping up to be the biggest multi-sport event on the European calendar next year and the ideal proving ground for athletes ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, according to senior figures at the leading National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Europe. Giovanni Malago and other top representatives from all 49 European NOCs gathered in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, last weekend for the 43rd European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly. They received status updates from the Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC), confirming preparations for Europe’s inaugural continental multi-sport games are firmly on track.

Giovanni Malago, President of National Olympic Committee of Italy, said: “The European Games will be the biggest event in 2015 for Italy’s athletes. Because it is one year out from the Olympic Games in Rio, athletes who make it to the podium in Azerbaijan have a real shot of winning an Olympic medal in 2016. Italian athletes can be crowned the first ever European Games Champions next summer, and there are eleven sports offering the chance to help book their place on the plane to Brazil. There is a lot at stake in Baku; after what I’ve seen of the city I’ve no doubt the inaugural European Games will be a fantastic sports event".

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, attended the EOC General Assembly. Speaking from Baku, he said: “I am deeply impressed to see the development here in regard to sport. What I have seen and heard about the preparations for the Baku 2015 European Games makes me very confident they will be an outstanding success for European sport and also an outstanding success for Azerbaijan". The NOC Presidents and Secretaries General also had a tour of the key venues including the National Stadium, the National Gymnastics Arena and the Baku Aquatics Centre. Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 – 28 June 2015. There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition. Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling and Volleyball.

Baku 2015 unveils official mascots Jeyran and Nar

Baku 2015 European Games has today unveiled Jeyran and Nar as the exciting official mascots for the inaugural sporting event. Inspired by Azerbaijani nature and heritage, Jeyran the Gazelle and Nar the Pomegranate reflect both the country’s proud history and promising future. The pair will symbolise the first European Games around the world as they feature on branding to promote Baku 2015. Mr Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport and Chief Executive Officer of Baku 2015, said: “We are extremely happy to introduce Jeyran and Nar to the world, and we hope that they will come to represent the excitement of the inaugural European Games. “As symbols of Baku 2015, they will inspire, excite and entertain a new generation of sports fans in Azerbaijan and will be visible around the city and the country in the coming months”.

Jeyran will become the cultural ambassador of the Games, offering visitors a glimpse into Azeribaijan’s rich heritage. From high up in the Caucasus mountains to the shores of the Caspian Sea, Jeyran likes guiding visitors around the country and showing them all that Azerbaijan has to offer. Jeyran, the Azerbaijani word for gazelle,is a symbol in the country of natural beauty, grace and purity. The gazelle is a protected species in Azerbaijan. Nar is a sun loving, playful pomegranate who grew up outside of the city of Goychay. Full of life and energy, Nar loves participating in new sports and will be getting involved with the European Games action. The pomegranate symbolises unity in Azerbaijani folklore, and features heavily in the colourful Baku 2015 branding already displayed extensively around the city. Mr Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 Chief Operating Officer, said: “Our mascots are important symbols of the inaugural European Games and we are delighted to be welcoming them to the Baku 2015 family.

"Jeyran will be an elegant cultural ambassador for the Games and for the rich heritage of Azerbaijan. Nar represents the energy, enthusiasm and fun of the Games and will be seen explaining and getting involved with the sports at our venues”. Mr Charlie Wijeratna, Baku 2015 Commercial Director, said: “We wanted to help bring the European Games to life in a playful and colourful way, and we hope that Jeyran and Nar will become popular across all of Azerbaijan as we look forward to hosting Europe’s elite athlete here at Baku 2015. “The mascots have started life as flat illustrations, but will soon be animated, and of course transformed in three dimensions to form a part of the merchandising of the European Games.”

Conference about doping in the Hall of Honor on December 2

On December 2, 2014, in the Hall of Honour of CONI, the conference "Fight against Doping: specific regulations and enforcement strategies. Legal and operational aspects" will be held. The work, divided into two sessions, will begin at 10 am and will be opened by a personal greeting from the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò. The morning debate - focused on the present and future doping regulations and on its law enforcement - will be chaired by the Secretary General Vicar of CONI, Carlo Mornati, while the Secretary-General, Roberto Fabbricini, will coordinate the work in the afternoon, that will focus on the themes of doping related control measures and duties of the athletes.

The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots. On December the announcement of the names

The wait is over! The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots have been unveiled. Inspired by Brazil’s fauna and flora, the duo feature various pop culture influences, along with elements of animation and computer game characters. “The Rio 2016 mascots represent the diversity of our culture, of our people,” said Beth Lula, the Rio 2016 brand director. “They represent our joy, our way of being. Both of them are magical creatures with super powers and relate naturally with the young audience, who we want to engage with our event so much".

The origin of the Rio 2016 mascots blends fiction and reality. According to the story, on 2 October 2009, when Rio de Janeiro was elected to host the Games, the great explosion of joy amongst Brazilians was felt by nature and from this energy the mascots were born. The Olympic mascot represents all of the different animals in Brazil. He can stretch his arms and legs as much as he wants. The Paralympic mascot is a fusion of plants found in Brazilian forests. He is energised by photosynthesis and can pull any object from his head of leaves. He is always growing and overcoming obstacles. “The mascots are one of the most important symbols of the Games because they create an emotional link with the public, especially children, and are genuine ambassadors for the event,” added Lula.

Rio 2016 wants the public to help name the mascots. The poll is already open and you can vote for your choice from a shortlist of three pairs of names: one for the Olympic mascot, the other for the Paralympic mascot, respectively. The choices are Oba and Eba, Tiba Tuque and Esquindim, and Vinicius and Tom. You can find out more about these names, and vote for your choice, at www.rio2016.com/mascots or on the Rio 2016 Twitter feed. The winning names will be announced on 14 December.

The swimmer Sabbioni the best young European athlete 2014

Simone Sabbioni winner at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing (China) of a gold medal in the 100 backstroke; a silver in the 4 x 100 freestyle; a bronze in the 50 backstroke, was honoured in Baku (Azerbaijan), during the 43rd General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), with the award for best young athlete of the year by the Chairman of the EOC Patrick Hickey. The Italian seventeen year old, who was standard-bearer for the Italian team in the closing ceremony in China, was voted with a majority by the General Assembly. The award, now in its fourth year, is dedicated to the memory of the President of the Polish Olympic Committee Piotr Nurowski who died tragically in a plane crash in 2010.

During the ceremony, which was attended by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, with the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini and the Deputy Carlo Mornati, the President of the EOC Hickey honoured the IOC President Thomas Bach from the EOC Order of Merit Award, the highest honour of the European Olympic Committees.

Baku was chosen as the location of the EOC Assembly a few months before the first edition of the European Games which will be held from 12 to 28 June 2015 in the Azerbaijani capital.

Bronze sculptures by Bellini in Stadio dei Marmi restored. Malagò and Miglietta "Proud of this operation"

Following the conclusion of their restoration, the two large bronze sculptures of wrestlers by Aroldo Bellini located on the stands of Stadio dei Marmi were presented this afternoon right in the stadium. The conservation intervention was logistically curated by Coni Servizi and was realized thanks to the cooperation between the Soprintendenza Speciale PSAE and Polo Museale of the city of Rome [Special Superintendence for the Historical, Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological Heritage and the Museums of Rome] and the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro [Superior Institute for Conservation and Restoration], which also funded the intervention aimed to improve the poor conditions of the two sculptures, mainly caused by the corrosion of bronze and the alteration of protective coatings.

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, attended the event with the CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, and the representatives of the other institutions involved. In two months of work (July and September), the technicians of the ISCR worksite school carried out a methodology of action specifically required to remove atmospheric deposits, black crusts and green corrosion spots, as well as numerous man-made damages such as graffiti.

Malagò, who was invited to unveil the bronze sculpture depicting Greco-Roman Wrestling and then the one representing Freestyle Wrestling, asked the students of the ISCR, the President of the FCI, Renato Di Rocco, and the President of the Italian Fair Play Committee, Ruggero Alcanterini, to join him during the revealing. "We are proud of this intervention that shows how CONI does not worry about winning medals only, but is also committed to developing a range of social intervention, showing a remarkable sensitivity also on the issue of the enhancement of Parco del Foro Italico".

On the other hand, technical and formal details of this important initiative were analyzed at Circolo del Tennis. The CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, hosted the meeting and expressed the satisfaction of his company on this intervention, which gives prestige to Italian sport. "This shows how public structures such as CONI, Coni Servizi, Soprintendenza Speciale PSAE and Polo Museale of the city of Rome and the ISCR can create a synergy to enact extraordinary actions as the restoration of these masterpieces by Bellini". Miglietta, who also praised the work of Paolo Pedrinelli of Beni Storici Coni Servizi, proceeded then to reward each student of the ISCR worksite school (Giacomo, Martina, Silvia, Fiamma e Giulia) with an Italian Olympic Team EA7 shirt.

Daniela Porro, Superintendent of the Soprintendenza Speciale PSAE and Polo Museale of the city of Rome, illustrated the interventions planned for the coming years in Parco del Foro Italico, starting with the restoration of the bronze sculptures. "We welcome the recovery of this work, a sculpture made in 1932 by the great artist Bellini, as a symbol of operational tutelage of the action brought forth in Parco del Foro Italico". The Officer Art Historian for the Soprintendenza Speciale, Adriana Capriotti, also attended the meeting. The Director of ISCR, Gisella Capponi, explained the stages of the operation. "When we received this request we welcomed it hesitantly due to the limited time and the conditions of the statues. We are pleased with the results and the second year students' work". The ISCR were also represented by the supervisors Laura D’Agostino and Donatella Cavezzali, together with the professors Vilma Basilissi and Paola Donati, who illustrated the technical aspects of the intervention explaining its various stages.

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.