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.

Alex Schwazer's hearing at the Prosecutor's Office postponed to November 20

CONI Anti-doping Prosecutor's Office, granting the request presented today by Alex Schwazer's defence lawyer, announces that it has delayed the convocation of the athlete to November 20, at 12 am without any further exemption, to answer on the subject of the already disputed disciplinary charges.

Malagò meets Bach: a glance into the future

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, met the IOC President Thomas Bach this morning in Bangkok. The event was also attended by the Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, and the General Director of IOC, Cristophe De Kepper.

The meeting lasted 45 minutes and was primarily focused on international politics matters, in view of the IOC Extraordinary Session that will be held in Monaco on December 8 and 9. After greeting him on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, the President of CONI informed Bach about the contents of the last meeting with the Prime Minister, held on Tuesday morning.

In view of a possible bid for the Olympic Games of 2024, the Italian National Olympic Committee looks forward to the results of the works in Monte Carlo and the discussion on the "Agenda 2020", which may include new scenarios and new opportunities for future Olympics bids. Finally, the President Malagò invited President Bach to the Sportsmen's Mass that will be held on December 19 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; after the Mass, Pope Francesco will meet with the Italian sports representatives.

Fabbricini signs a cooperation agreement with Qatar

The Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, signed a cooperation agreement with the Qatar Olympic Committee this morning in Bangkok. The agreement was signed during a ceremony on the side-lines of the World Olympic Committees (ACNO) underway in the Thai capital. The protocol was signed by the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The Deputy Secretary General of CONI, Carlo Mornati, and the Ambassador of Qatar to Thailand, Jaipur Al Dossery were also attending.

Among the main points of the agreement, the reciprocal relationships in view of the Summer Olympic Games and the development of areas of common interest. The two Olympic Committees will undertake to develop exchanges between athletes and to promote the exchange of experiences among coaches, doctors, managers and experts, through participation in seminars, courses and shared experiences.