CONI: Communication of the National Board
This morning The 1025th meeting of the CONI National Board has gathered at the Foro Italico, approving the minutes of the previous meeting of the 6th of May. In his communication President Malagò has started with reminding and praising the organization of the CONI Centenary celebration, while informing about the audience rating obtained by the program braodcasted live on Rai 1 (14,20% rating with average audience of 3,222,000 and a peak of 18,05%). The Board has then acknowledged the agreement signed by CONI and COE President Patrick Hickey for the use of Villino Giulio Onesti until 2017. The update of the qualifications for the Youth Olympic Gales in Nanjing has been brought to the attention of the Board (cuurently 65 athletes have qualified on a potential maximum of 70 allowed per regulation). In case the qualifications would overcome such a limit a choice will occur on the basis of the athletes who have obtained the qualification on the field. Moreover, the modifications to art. 11 of the key principled for FSN Statutes related to transparency criteria have been approved. Regarding the reform of Sport Justice, after a broad and deep debate, the new principles and a new code of sport justice as well as the General Prosecutor's Office and the Disciplinary Board regulations have been approved. The Board has then approved the resolution for the proposal to the National Council about a six months extension of the special administration for the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation starting from the 10th of July, 2014. It has been given to the advisor la Bain the task to articulate in economic terms the established criteria for the distribution of funds to the Federations. It has been finally announced that the special administration of CONI Sicily Regional Committee will end on the 21st of June with a new elective assembly. After examining a long series of other organizational and administrative subjects, and having approved the corresponding resolutions, the Board has closed it works at 1:30 pm.
CONI: Night of stars, 100 years like a dream
The lights illuminate the history, spotlights highlight a proud flag, ever so bright. It is the night of the stars, the day of the CONI.
MEDICINE AND SCIENCE INSTITUTE: By CONI the 3rd CIO medical course on periodic evaluation. Miglietta: "Proud of this event, for 50 years at service of sport"
A crowning event for CONI and the Medicine and Sport Science Institute. Even CIO, in the days preeceding the celebration of the Centennary, has had the intention to pay homage to CONI, organizing exceptionally– in the Honour Hall – the third course on the periodical medical evaluation and on imaging testing. The prestigioius medical meeting has had the participation of CIO Scientific President, Lars Einghebresen and has been opened by the greetings of CIP President and Rome City Council member Luca Pancalli. The welcome message by Alberto Maglietta, Coni Servizi AD, has underlined the crucial role of the medical component. "Coni Servizi considers as a priority defending the athletes' health and the Institute is the operating arm in order to achieve with efficacy this aim. We are proud to be able to host this course, this is a synonim for credibility for an organization that has been at the service of sport for 50 years".
Particularly significant have been also the introduction greetings of Maurizio Casasco, FMSI President, and Antonio Urso, Coordinator of the Relationship between School of Sport and Institute. The works have been instead opened by the qualified intervention of Dr. Einghebresen, who ha spoken about CIO activities addressing the protection of athletes' health. Moreover, Dr. Fabio Pigozzi, FIMS President, has talked about the subject of FIMS policy in relation to the safeguard of the athletes' health, while Dr. Antonio Pelliccia, coordinator of cardiological activities in the Institute, has closed the session with a detailed report about the cardiovascular screening, highlighting that in the last 4 editions of the Olympic Games, the 10% in a sample of 1800 athletes had cardiovscular modifications to be assessed.
Dr Antonio Spataro, Instute Health Director, has greeted the people attending, underlining the initiatives carried out in order to defend the athletes. The works has been closed by the intervention of CIO member Mario Pescante, who has congratulated the AD of Coni Servizi Miglietta for the recet initiatives undertaken, and by the greetings of CONI President Giovanni Malagò, who has expressed the pride of the Italian National Olympic Committee to be able to host such an important medical-scientific gathering.
Pope Francis at the Olympic Stadium: a celebration for 52000 faithful. The commotion of President Malagò
Pope Francis has entered today for the first time the Olympic Stadium for taking part in the 37th Gathering of the Catholic movement Renovation of the Spirit, with the title "Receive the Holy Ghost. For an 'out' and 'missionary' Church". Pope Francis has been welcomed by the Rome vicar Cardinal Agostino Vallini and by Rns President Salvatore Martinez, by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and by the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino. It is the fourth time that a Pope has come to the Olympic Stadium: before Pope Bergoglio, John Paul the Second had been there three times: for the jubilee of sportsmen, on the 12th of April, 1984; the blessing of the football field after the renovation on the 37th anniversary, and in the last occasion for the sporstmen jubilee of 2000, on the 29th of October, when Pope Wojtyla for the first time celebrated Mass there and then was present at the Italy-Rest of the World match. The Olympic Stadium, that on Friday and Saturday had hosted the concert of singer Ligabue, in only one night it has been promptly transformed by Coni Servizi in order to welcome the Pope and the Catholic gathering. At the end of the celebration, President Malagò has confessed his emotion: "It has been fantastic and moving. The Pope has greatly honored us with his presence here at the Olympic Stadium in this afternoon that will be unforgettable for us. Thank you, Holy Father for the joy you have given us."
Sabbioni as flag bearer in the closure ceremony of the Dreams Games, goodbye until Buenos Aires 2018
«Ni hao Nanjing», goodbye Nanjing! With these words, CIO President Thomas Bach has declared the closure of the second summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games. This edition will be remembered for its magnificence and for an organization that can be compared with the Games of the older athletes. The countdown has started, the flags of the 203 nations attending parading. The Italian tricolore being borne by Simone Sabbioni, swimmer from Rimini, 100 m backstroke gold medal. In the official gallery, politicians and authorities are present, coming from every part of the world, starting from the home host, the Governor of the Li Xueyong province. "It has been the Olympics of innovation" the CIO head added, before inviting more than 60,000 people attending on the bleachers to have a "selfie" and post it on #Nanjing2014. The #YOGselfie campaign has involved 400 millions of people in the 24 hours after the opening ceremony. Only in China, 56 million people sent a post using this hashtag, 147 million surfed in #nanjing2014. It could not be any different, given the 3,808 teenagers living in the 26 town facilities and an Olympic Village exploding for them in a feast of sounds and colours every night. The final ceremony at the Olympic Sport centre stadium, organized by artistic director Weiya Chen as a huge "concert", represented the last act of the "dream sharing", such as recited by the YOG slogan: "Share our games, share our dreams." The languages used in these 12 competition days – a lot of them having an absolute relevance, due to the results obtained – have been necessarily those of the young people ("Let's get together" and "Pump it up", for example). Simple and straightforward communication, with a social networking touch, which has had an important role also in the activities of the Culture and Education program (the CEP promoted by the Young Ambassadors) based on five themes: olympism, civic education, professional education, expressivity and well-being, healthy life-styles. "We got to know athletes we are going to see in Tokyo in 2020, someone already in Rio de Janeiro. All of us, from every corner of the world, want to thank Jiangsu and Nanjing for this unforgettable experience," concluded Bach, before the Olympic flag was hauled down for its delivery to a representative of Buenos Aires. In 2018, the best world sportive youth will move to the Argentinian capital (passing by the Winter Games of Lillehammer 2016) and Lionel Messi is the one who has given his welcome with a video message. Then the torch has turned off, leaving the usual veil of melancholia. The lighthouse of innovation evoked by the Olympic International Committee President is still well on. After the start in Singapore of the 3 on 3 basketball, successfully proposed again also in Nanjing, Lausanne has won the bet on 5 on 5 hockey and the 8x100 relay in athletics, without mentioning golf and rugby sevens, disciplines that have showed to be ready for their debut in Brazil. The so-called Sport Laboratory has also had a good reception, being dedicated to the four emerging sports, particularly followed in China: wunshu kungfu, sport climbing, roller skating and skateboard. Five Italian athletes have competed in them in the Sport LAB project: Federica Gasperini, Valentina Ugolini, Michele Giordano, Leonardo Gontero and Francesca Lollobrigita, who was 23th on the 3,000 ice skating race in Sochi. Last night the big Olympic Games of the young has thus ended. A sport generation has greeted more than 30,000 volunteers who had welcomed them with enthusiasm. Many NANJINGLELE fluctuating were on the field, small balloons of the funny mascot insipred by Yuhua (literally: 'rain of the stone flower'), a typical stone polished by the waters of the Yangtze River. On the big screens, in the meantime, the best images of the competitions were running, the smiles, the medals. Hugs, a lot of hugs! Seven giant platforms, one per letter, composed the word NANJING, which in mandarin means 'capital of the South'. Traditional songs, pop music, typical dances from every continent, acrobats and thousands of people participating have made the party. Even if this edition is now behind our shoulders, as declaimed in the official anthem of the Youth Olympic Games 2014, when young people are involved, "Dreams never end"!
Arecchia (boxing) ends beautifully! YOG medal ranking: Italy is at the 7th place and improves compared to Singapore 2010
Welter boxer from Marcianise Vincenzo Arecchia (boxing) has conquered the gold medal in the 64 kg category after the walk-over by his rival Japanese Toshihiro Suzuki, who had gone in knock-out in the semi-final because of an irregular blow by his opponent, Russian Bibert Tumerov, who was disqualified. The 17-year-old of the Excelsior Boxe, without even the need of wearing his boxing gloves, has brought the Italia Team the 27th medal and the 6th YOG title. In diving the Italian athlete Laura Bilotta instead, in couple with the Armenian athlete Lev Sargsyan, has ended the competition at the 4th place with a total of 346.60 in the final of the international mixed teams. Therefore, the second summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games is ending with a very good outcome for the Italian delegation led by Anna Riccardi. The young Italia has conquered two bronze medals more than in Singapore 2010 - 27 against 25, with the same number of gold (8) and silver medals (10). Without taking into consideration the six podiums obtained in the mixed team per continent competition with 21 medals (7 gold - 8 silver - 6 bronze - tot. 21), CONI mission is at the 7th place in the YOG medal ranking following China, Russia, United States, France, Japan and Ukraine. Out of the 69 athletes constituting the Italian team, 47 competed in a final and four Italian records have been obtained in swimming by Esposito (200 m backstroke), Carini (100 m butterfly stroke), Sabbioni (100 m backstroke) and Quadarella (800 m freestyle). The medals, furthermore, have been won in 12 different sports out of the 21 we took part in: swimming (7), fencing (4), athletics (3), boxing (3), cycling (2), golf (2), gymnastics (1), judo (1), modern pentathlon (1), weightlifting (1), triathlon (1), equestrian sports (1). Finally, the Italian delegation, having in Nanjing the news about the disappearance of Alfredo Martini, not being able to express his mourning with a band on the arm, will ideally wear it during the closure ceremony (tomorrow night at 8 pm local time, 2 pm in Italy), addressing its affection and sympathies to the family of the former cycling head coach.
Boxing, Testa is silver, with a golden heart! Golf and Tognetti (pentathlon) salute with a bronze
Tenth day of competitions at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. The azzurra Irma Testa, 16 years old from Torre Annunziata, has won the YOG silver in the boxing flyweight category (51 kg), having been defeated only in the final by Chinese Yuan Chang 3-0. After having overcome, with the same score, Turkish Neriman Istik in the semifinal, the boxing champion from the Vesuvius region, world champion in 2013, was looking for gold for her definitive consecration. "I am disappointed because I do not think I deserved this defeat. We have been both waiting for each other and we haven't seen blows gone to target. At each blow from my rival which did not go to target, however, the home public attending exploded with a roar, so that I was thinking myself I had been hit, let alone the jury. I am not looking for justifications, in any case. I am only saying that I am not going to switch to a superior category, I am remaining in the 51 kg category only and exclusively to have my revenge at the Taipei world championships." The young athlete from Campania region, a student in the 3rd year of accounting high school (Ragioneria), strangely a supporter of Juventus ("it is a family issue") and in particular of Arturo Vidal ("If he is going to change club, I will become a supporter of his new team. But also Insigne is not bad!"), seems to be disappointed but she is proud, with her eyes wet she does not look for alibis. She would have one, however. On the 31st of July, Irma underwent an urgent appendicitis surgery and therefore she missed the whole last part of her preparation. "The first training sessions started here in Nanjing," Emanuele Renzini, technical manager of the Women's Team, has confirmed, "without a training with the sparring partner the mechanisms necessary to face such an important match cannot function. I am sorry about the match because I think Irma is stronger than the Chinese athlete. Her best gift is timing, she can wait for the rival in order to hit her." "That is true, but today I waited for too long," the Italian boxer has added, "We both knew that only one blow would have made the difference. At the end, we can say that Chang has won, but surely I have not lost! How did I started with boxing? To imitate my sister who left classic ballet to move to the ring. And I have also two younger brothers on the same route. I will never become a professional boxer, I want to win the Olympic Games and have access to the Sport Team of the Armed Forces!" During the morning, the second youth Olympic medal for Italian golf has come. The couple Renato Paratore and Elena Virginia Carta, after the playoff match with Denmark for the third and fourth place, has ended the Mixed Team Tournament with the bronze medal, with a total of 274 at -14 from par, behind Sweden and Korea (272, -16). CIO President Thomas Bach himself, visiting the Zhongshan International Golf Club, has congratulated the two young Italians. In the evening, finally, the mixed team relay of modern pentathlon has gifted the Italia Team with the last place. Another bronze, coming form the flag-bearer, Roman athlete Aurora Tognetti, who, at the end of an extraordinary recovery in the combined competition (running and shooting gallery) in couple with Korean Gilung Park, got on the lowest step of the podium with a total of 1183 points, behind Team 13 composed by Portoguese Maria Migueis Teixeira and Ukrainian Anton Kuznetsov, gold with 1204 points and Team 9 made up of Hungarian Anna Toth and Mexican Ricardo Yamil Vera Reyes, silver with a total of 1201 points. Azzurro Gianluca Micozzi, instead, who was competing with Mexican Martha Derrant Ramirez, has ended its competition at the 9th place with 1158 points. The Italian medals at the Youth Olympic Games are 26 now (one more than in Singapore 2010) but with six gold medals Italy has been overcome by the United States and Ukraine and is on 5th position. China and Russia are still leading. Tomorrow the last fireworks with Vincenzo Arecchia in the final of boxing 64 kg category and the couple Bilotta – Ciammarughi in the final of diving mixed team per continent.
A leap into the future: Tobia Bocchi (Athletics) YOG silver in the Triple Jump
The athlete from Parma Tobia Bocchi (Athletics), silver in the Triple Jump M. with 16.01 behind the triple jumper from Suriname Miguel Van Assen (16:15). In third the Azerbaijani Nazim Babayev with 15.96. 23rd YOG medal for Italia Team in Nanjing. The 17 year old of CUS Parma wanted to dedicate the medal to his roommate, the two hundred metre runner Filippo Tortu, who injured both arms in the semi-finals and has already returned to Italy to undergo the treatment of Dr Panzeri at the Galeazzi Institute of Milan. "In this moment of absolute joy I want to wish a speedy recovery also to Daniele Greco who was hurt at the European Championships in Zurich. I even wrote to him to stand firm, because he will come back stronger than before". The youth of Romagna coached by Renato Conte and monitored at the Youth Olympic Games by the coaches Antonio Andreozzi and Eugene Paolino, was caught on the last jump by a violent storm which in fact has dampened the ambitions of gold. "I could not take the last of the three deadlifts - Tobia said in the mixed area after completing a lap of the field with the Italian tricolor flag and a sign reading "Thanks Nanjing" in Chinese characters – However, there will be time to take off for other satisfactions. Next year, I change category and I will try to go to the European Under 20s, the following year there is the World Championships. One step at a time. Now I will rest and then start again with the indoor season". In the other final A of the evening Nicole Svetlana Reiina finishes at the foot of the podium of the 2,000 steeplechase with a time of 6:38:68, while in the morning the triple jumper Valentina Kalmykova finished in seventh place (12.18/-0.1) and Chiara Ferdani in tenth in the 1500m (4:39.88).
Vincenzo Lizzi (Boxing) Welterweight YOG bronze for Technical KO in the second round!
The Boxer from Cetraro (CS) Vincenzo Lizzi won the Bronze in YOG Welter 69 Kg. Beating the Belarusian Adzinayeu due to a technical knockout in the second round. After winning by split decision the first encounter with the Georgian Giorgi Kharabadze and having lost against the Dominican Juan Solano by 3 to 0 in the semi-finals, the 18 year old from the Forestale, previously Morello Boxe, prevailed in the final for third and fourth place, the challenge was not planned in the main Olympic programme: "I wanted to win at all costs. Several years ago I would never have imagined receiving an Olympic medal. I thank my uncle, Ercole Morello, who helped train me in the boxing club and I dedicate the bronze to my family and in particular to my father, who has come with me to Nanjing and has done a lot of cheering in the stands". "Vincenzo is a boxing fighter that put a lot of pressure on the opponent and always aims to hit in the encounter - tells us Emanuele Renzini, Training Manager of the Nazionale Donne (National Women)- He has the ability, and he demonstrated that today, to conclude the match before the cut-off limit. Now, after a few days rest, he will begin preparing for the European Youth Championships in Croatia in October. "On the side of the women, in the morning, the Sicilian Monica Floridia finished in 5th place beating the Ukrainian Bondarenko by 2 to 1, while tomorrow it's up to Irma Testa, in the final with the Chinese Yuan Chang. The sixteen year old from Torre Annunziata, the promise of Vesuvian Boxing, already sure of the medal in the fly weight 51 Kg. She will then fight against the lady of the house only to determine the colour. It seems certain gold due to renunciation of the opponent, on the other hand, for Vincenzo Arecchia. Meanwhile, in fact, the Light Welterweight of Marcianise beat the Turkish Adem Furkan Avci in the semi-finals, in the other encounter, the Russian Bibert Tumenov was disqualified for the KO beyond the gong inflicted on the Japanese Toshihiro Suzuki, which should, by regulation, be declared unfit to fight. The certainty after tomorrow of the weight, even if it is Arecchia himself showing optimism: "Whether I get up in the ring or not, the gold is mine." Meanwhile, the Italia Team rises to 22 medals overall at the Youth Olympic Games, which will be supplemented by the two from boxing; to reach 24, one podium place less than Singapore, waiting for the last Azzurri fireworks before those of the Closing Ceremony of the evening of the 28th.
Eight silver circles! The mixed relay in Cycling brings Italy the 21st YOG medal
Second YOG medal from cycling, this time in silver. After the gold of the Female pairs, Sofia Beggin and Chiara Teocchi, with their teammates Federico Mandelli and Manuel Todaro, both from the province of Milan, they get second place in the mixed relay with the overall time of 17:31 behind the Team from the Czech Republic, consisting of Barbora Prudkova, Nikola Noskova, Jan Rajchart and Roman Lehky. Third place went to Ukraine's Darya Tkachova, Anzhelika Teterych, Vladyslav Nizitskyi and Rinat Udod. The formula, which included two trials in the MTB Cross Country Eliminator and Road, has brought the qualities of the Azzurri cyclists back into the limelight again, allowing the Male duo to come in tenth place on Friday. "The disappointment for the pair race we immediately put aside - said Mandelli, promise of Mtb Increa Brugherio - From every experience, even if it is negative, you have to take the good, throw the rest away and start over. The opportunity today was too great to pass up. We knew we were among the favourites - the 17 year old continues from Segrate - and before getting in the saddle we prepared well. I am very happy, it was an experience that I will never forget. I dedicate this medal to my parents who have always supported me". Same joy, same thought for Todaro, who, in addition to the family, offers his affectionate gratitude to his mental coach Andrea Arnaboldi and to the trainers Rino De Candido and Luigi Bielli: "There were a lot of us - added the 18-year old from Magenta, registered with the ASD Cycling Biringhello - if only because in the team with us were the new youth Olympic champions. With Sofia and Chiara we have formed a great friendship. What I will take away with me from Nanjing? A silver, the memory of the wonderful hospitality of the Chinese, the fun experienced at the village. And it is obvious that they cannot wait to relive it all. The Olympics is every four years, for this reason it is not comparable to the World Championships. For this reason, the medal around my neck weighs so much".
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