ANOC Awards 2024: Italvolley wins ‘Best Women’s Team’. Cambi: “Paris 2024 was an incredible journey”

• IN CASCAIS

Julio Velasco’s national volleyball team has won the ‘Best Women’s Team’ award at the 2024 ANOC Awards.

The Azzurre were among the stars of the event in Cascais, Portugal, organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees and broadcast live on ItaliaTeamTV. The jury, which annually recognises outstanding performances in major international sporting events, selected Italvolley, who won gold at Paris 2024 without suffering a single defeat, helping Italia Team reach 40 podium finishes and surpass its record medal tally from Tokyo 2020.

Ekaterina Antropova, Caterina Bosetti, Carlotta Cambi, Anna Danesi, Monica De Gennaro, Paola Egonu, Sarah Fahr, Gaia Giovannini, Marina Lubian, Loveth Omoruyi, Alessia Orro, Miriam Sylla, and Ilaria Spirito: this was the squad that secured the first Olympic gold in Italian volleyball history, following three silver and three bronze medals won by the men’s team.

Among those attending the ceremony at the CCE Auditorium in Estoril were CONI President Giovanni Malagò, Secretary General Carlo Mornati, and a delegation from CONI’s Olympic Preparation division, who travelled to Portugal to participate in the ANOC General Assembly, which will conclude on 1 November.

“How did we win gold? Our mindset changed, and thanks to our coach Julio Velasco, our staff, and the lessons learned from past experiences, we made it,” said Carlotta Cambi on stage (photo ANOC) after receiving the award from Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations. “It was an incredible journey. When we returned to Italy, we received an extraordinary welcome”.

Earlier in Cascais, Raffaele Pagnozzi, Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees and former Secretary General of CONI, was also honoured with the ANOC Merit Award.

Pagnozzi awarded the ANOC Merit Award by the Assembly of National Olympic Committees

• IN CASCAIS

The Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees and former Secretary General of CONI, Raffaele Pagnozzi, received the ANOC Merit Award this morning in Cascais. This prestigious accolade, established in 1983, honours officials who have made outstanding contributions to ANOC’s activities.

It was the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, together with ANOC President Robin Mitchell, who presented the award to Pagnozzi (photo ANOC), while the following citation was read: “As Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees, he has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in his role over the past 18 years, significantly contributing to the advancement of the Olympic Movement in Europe. Through his tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the values of Olympism, the EOC has achieved significant milestones, strengthening unity and collaboration among Europe’s NOCs.”

Representing CONI at the Assembly in Cascais are President Giovanni Malagò and Secretary General Carlo Mornati. This evening, at the Gala Dinner, awards will be presented to the best athletes and teams in the world for 2024. The Italian delegation awaits the results with great anticipation, as the Italian women’s volleyball team, victorious at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is among the nominees for the prestigious trophy. The event will be broadcast live on tv.italiateam.sport from 8 p.m. (Italian time).

Tomorrow morning, on the second day of proceedings, Malagò will deliver a report on the progress of the organisation of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

IOC Advanced Team Physician Course at the ‘Giulio Onesti’ Olympic Preparation Centre. Malagò: “Honoured to host the elite of sports medicine”

• CONI-CIO

The fifteenth edition of the IOC Advanced Team Physician Course has begun at CONI’s ‘Giulio Onesti’ Olympic Preparation Centre. The global elite of sports medicine has gathered in Rome for this event, recognised by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and aimed at physicians of high-level teams from national Olympic committees and international federations. The course features interactive lectures by highly experienced doctors, academics, and specialists, discussing the main clinical cases encountered worldwide.

In the Aula Magna of Acqua Acetosa, Roald Bahr, President of the IOC Scientific Committee, opened the event: “We are in the centre where champions are trained, where Italian athletes prepared for the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning 40 medals. We are delighted to hold an event here that has travelled the world since 2008. Our goal has always been to help the best doctors take care of the best athletes”. Richard Budgett, IOC Medical and Scientific Director since 2012, added: “I would like to particularly thank CONI and President Giovanni Malagò. This is a special event in a special place. Here, the best are trained, and the significance increases considering that the next edition of the Olympic Games, the 2026 Winter Games, will take place in Italy.” Jane Thornton, who will succeed Richard Budgett in December, said: “Passion and commitment have made it possible once again to organise this splendid meeting. It is a fantastic tradition that continues under the banner of quality: at the centre is the athlete and their well-being”.

At this point, CONI President Giovanni Malagò (photo Gobbi GMT) took the floor: “Welcome to the fifteenth edition of the IOC Advanced Team Physician Course. I represent CONI, I am an IOC member, but above all, I am personally honoured to be here with the global elite of sports medicine. I am sure you will enjoy this centre with its unique atmosphere, named after Giulio Onesti, who was a very important President of the Italian National Olympic Committee. After the Second World War, this centre was founded to support athletes in preparation for the Rome 1960 Games: there are ideal venues for all sports, and it is home to many athletes cared for by our Olympic Preparation team. With Paris 2024 behind us, an Olympics where we achieved the best medal tally in Italy’s history, it is now time to prepare for Milano Cortina 2026.” The ‘Giulio Onesti’ Olympic Preparation Centre is also home to the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science. “The Institute,” added Malagò, “represents excellence in our country. Elite specialists for elite athletes”.

The IOC Advanced Team Physician Course will continue until the afternoon of Thursday, 24 October. Among the speakers is Professor Andrea Ferretti, Medical Director of the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, who on Wednesday afternoon will present “five lessons learned as a team physician”.

But that’s not all. On Friday 25 and Saturday 26, the thirteenth edition of the IOC Course on Cardiovascular Evaluation of Olympic Athletes will take place, returning to ‘Giulio Onesti’ after six years. Among the speakers from the IMSS will be Dr Maria Rosaria Squeo, Head of Medical Services for the Olympic Area, the Institute’s cardiology specialists – Professor Antonio Pelliccia, Dr Viviana Maestrini, Dr Giuseppe Di Gioia, and Drs Federica Mango and Sara Monosilio – and Dr Erika Lemme, a specialist in sports medicine.

Also on 25 and 26, the first edition of the IOC Course on Respiratory Care of Olympic Athletes will be held: representing the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science will be Professor Paolo Palange, a specialist in pulmonology.

CONI Hosts the General Conference of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport

• AT THE FORO ITALICO

CONI hosted the annual General Conference of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS), the multi-stakeholder platform launched in 2017 during the International Forum on Sport Integrity (IFSI) with the aim of bringing together international sports organisations, governments, and intergovernmental organisations in the fight against corruption in sport.

Welcoming attendees was CONI President and IOC member Giovanni Malagò, who extended his greetings to Pâquerette Girard Zappelli, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer of the IOC, and the over 100 officials, either present or connected remotely, representing governments, sports and intergovernmental organisations, as well as relevant private sector entities and academic institutions.

The Conference elected Swiss representative Urs Tschanz as President of IPACS for 2025-2026.

 In addition to the election, the focus of the debate was on promoting good governance in sport, including the presentation of a new pragmatic tool developed by IPACS; the status, evolution, and ambitions of cooperation networks aimed at combating corruption in sport, with examples of best practices from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; the latest trends and successes in using artificial intelligence to fight corruption in sport; and the presentation of the newly created IPACS working group and the strategic roadmap for 2025-26, along with the partnership’s future goals.

Emilia Romagna wins the Trofeo CONI Sicilia 2024: trophy awarded in Palermo

• CLOSING CEREMONY

Emilia Romagna is the winner of the ninth summer edition of the Trofeo CONI. The team from the CONI Regional Committee, led by President Andrea Dondi, has triumphed for the first time in the history of Italy’s largest under-14 sports event. Hosts Sicily finished second, while Friuli Venezia Giulia completed the podium in third place.

After three days under the banner of sport and friendship inaugurated by the CONI Fair Play Games and continued with the competitions of the disciplines of 39 National Sports Federations and 5 Associated Sports Disciplines, with an Opening Ceremony that is already historic thanks to the presence in Catania of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, the Closing Ceremony was staged in Palermo (photo Bizzi-Ferraro CONI). The Foro Italico Umberto I (with a live video link to the delegations based in Catania) hosted the final act of this ‘mini Olympics,’ organised this year by CONI Sicilia (under the leadership of President Sergio D’Antoni), in collaboration with the CONI Territorial Directorate and in partnership with the Region of Sicily, the Municipality of Catania, the Municipality of Palermo, and ITA Airways.

It was a record-breaking edition: 4,500 participants including athletes and coaches, who were widely celebrated during the Closing Ceremony. The event opened with the Italian national anthem, performed by tenor Fabrizio Corona. The audience and the young athletes themselves warmly applauded Tina and Milo, the mascots of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. On stage, comedian and theatre actor Sasà Salvaggio entertained the attendees before Sergio D’Antoni, President of CONI Sicilia, took the floor: “The Trofeo CONI has been a success. This is the great victory for all. Youth sport and the Italian territory have won. I thank all those who contributed to this splendid event. The behaviour of the young athletes has been exemplary, and we are truly pleased. It has been a great moment of unity for the country through youth sport”. “These extraordinary young people fill me with happiness and joy,” added Roberto Lagalla, Mayor of Palermo. “We are delighted that Sicily hosted this event. Here, we celebrate the beauty of youth from all the regions of Italy. The smiles of these young athletes are the most wonderful thing”. President of the Region of Sicily, Renato Schifani, echoed this sentiment: “I am very pleased that, following the Opening Ceremony in Catania, it was Palermo that hosted the Closing Ceremony. This Trofeo CONI has demonstrated a united region, one that shapes its young people not only in sport but also in principles and values”.

Two outstanding Sicilian athletes also took centre stage. Swimmer Xenia Palazzo, winner of six Paralympic medals in her career, shared: “Over the years, I have experienced powerful emotions that I will carry in my heart forever”. Weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato, bronze medallist in the 81 kg category at the Tokyo Olympic Games and in the 89 kg category in Paris, also spoke: “You young people are the future. Believe in yourselves every day and work hard. Paris was a particularly emotional Olympic Games for me: the doctors told me I would not be able to go because of a severe spinal issue. But I believed in myself, I went, and I won a medal. My bronze feels like gold. I am very proud. Youngsters, treasure these emotions, because to win, it is not about ‘I’, but ‘we’”.

For the first time, the Fair Play Award, dedicated to the memory of Gianni Gallo, was presented to a boy and a girl who demonstrated exceptional respect for the rules and leadership skills: the winners were Piedmontese golfer Caterina Chiono, awarded in Catania, and Marche athlete Orlando Rocchi, an archer. The award was presented by former skier Claudia Giordani, silver medallist in the slalom at Innsbruck 1976 and current Vice President of CONI: “On the occasion of this wonderful edition of the Trofeo CONI, we want to highlight the importance of Olympic values and fair play. Fair play means integrity, respect for the rules, respect for teammates and oneself, friendship, teamwork, solidarity, and generosity”.

In the final moments, Cecilia D’Angelo, Director of the CONI Territorial Directorate, announced the final standings: third place for Friuli Venezia Giulia, second place for Sicily, and the winner of the 2024 Trofeo CONI Summer Edition – Emilia Romagna.

The ceremony concluded with Antonino Pizzolato extinguishing the Olympic cauldron.

Opening Ceremony, Mattarella: “Trofeo CONI an experience of enthusiasm, talent, and friendship”

• SICILY IN CELEBRATION

Emotion, passion, sport. Piazza dell’Università in Catania hosted the Opening Ceremony of the Trofeo CONI Sicilia 2024, with delegations also joining via video link from Palermo. For the first time in the event’s history, now in its ninth summer edition, the top two figures of the Italian state were in attendance: the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella (accompanied by his daughter, Laura), and the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa.

A celebration (photo Ferraro-Bizzi CONI) of the largest under-14 sporting event in Italy, where for the first time, the Fair Play Award – dedicated to the memory of Gianni Gallo – will be presented to a boy and a girl who have stood out through their respect for the rules and leadership skills. The event also honoured the memory of two legendary Azzurri figures, Franco Chimenti and Lea Pericoli, with a minute of silence dedicated to them.

Leading the parade of delegations were representatives of Italian communities abroad from Argentina, Australia (making its debut), Brazil, the United States, and Venezuela. In the days following the Trofeo, they will explore Sicily as part of the NRRP “Tourism of Roots” project, tracing their ancestral heritage. Behind them marched representatives from the 21 CONI Regional Committees, bringing together a record 4,500 participants, including athletes and coaches. In the midst of the young athletes Luigi Busà (Sicilian from Avola, gold in karate at Tokyo 2020), Manila Esposito (silver in Paris 2024 in the artistic gymnastics team all-around competition and bronze on beam), Matteo Melluzzo (sprinter from Syracuse in Paris 2024 and European gold in the 4x100m relay in Rome 2024) and ‘the Shark’ from Messina, former cyclist Vincenzo Nibali (winner of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia). Also present at the ceremony will be Tina and Milo, the official mascots for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The Carabinieri Fanfare played the Italian national anthem, the Corazzieri raised the Tricolore, and then the officials took the floor. “I have experienced many emotions in my life,” said Sergio D’Antoni, President of CONI Sicilia, “but this one is unique, intense, and powerful. I thank the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, for being here, showing once again how much he loves sport and this land, which often suffers from unjust prejudice that we must combat. Sport plays a crucial role in keeping young people off the streets and away from the mafia. Heroes like Mattarella, Falcone, and Borsellino have shown that we can change this land. We can gain worldwide recognition with the pride of being Sicilian. I also thank the President of the Sicily Region, Renato Schifani, whose significant contribution made this event possible: without the Region’s support, we would not have succeeded. I thank the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò: he has always believed in the region and defended CONI. In recent years, we have achieved results never before seen in the history of Italian sport”.

Next, the Mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, addressed the audience: “This is an exhilarating moment for our region. The presence of the top two figures of the state is a testament to their sensitivity towards our territory. Sport is the workshop where much of society’s future is shaped. It is not victory that makes us better, but respect for the rules of the game. May the best win, but above all, be fair and enjoy yourselves”. “This is a moment of gathering, growth, and reflection on the values that sport must embody and uphold,” added Gaetano Galvagno, President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. “Rossella Fiamingo and Alberta Santuccio lived their dreams in Paris, while Rossana Pasquino triumphed with a Paralympic medal in the same French capital. Live every moment of this experience with passion and determination”. Renato Schifani, President of the Sicily Region, also spoke: “Sport is a fundamental value for our country, especially for you young people. It is a school of life. Through sport, young people learn respect for the rules, determination, solidarity, and team spirit. With the Trofeo CONI, we celebrate sport and friendship, shared joy”.

CONI President Giovanni Malagò expressed pride and gratitude for an unforgettable evening: “All I can say is thank you for your presence, which honours this extraordinary regional Olympics. We have travelled across Italy, but what we see here is unparalleled. If we are here today, it is because of the federation presidents and regional committee members who are elected volunteers from our movement of 14 million Italians: they bring expertise and embody a wealth of history that has made Italian sport great”.

Athletes and coaches took their respective oaths, followed by a performance by the Fratelli Napoli with their traditional marionette theatre. The Olympic cauldron was then lit. The torchbearers in Catania were fencers Rossella Fiamingo and Alberta Santuccio, gold medallists in the team épée event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; meanwhile, in Palermo, three-time kickboxing world champion Elena Pantaleo carried the flame.

On stage in Catania, Rossana Pasquino, bronze medallist in the team foil event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, introduced the three-year collaboration between CONI and the Agnelli Foundation. As part of this initiative, Pasquino, Fiamingo, and Santuccio will visit middle school students in Catania, sharing their experiences of balancing sport and education while excelling in both fields. “It is wonderful to be here, at home,” said Alberta Santuccio. “Seeing these young people parade reminds me of Paris: at 14, I dreamed of an Olympic medal. You must believe in your dreams.” “We have been travelling a lot recently, and it is fantastic to be back home,” added Rossella Fiamingo. “These young athletes are the future of sport. My Italian teacher used to say, ‘Sport is culture.’ He was right”.

Finally, Sergio Mattarella declared the Trofeo CONI Sicilia 2024 officially open: “Thank you, young people, you are wonderfully numerous. This opening evening launches you into days filled with enthusiasm that you will remember forever. You will display talent and friendship: best wishes for these days ahead and for your future. I declare the Trofeo CONI open”.

Everything is set for the Trofeo CONI Sicilia 2024: Mattarella at the Opening Ceremony, Olympic champions Fiamingo and Santuccio as torchbearers

• NINTH SUMMER EDITION

The ninth summer edition of the Trofeo CONI is set to be a record-breaking event. Sicily, with the provinces of Catania and Palermo, along with an additional venue in the Syracuse area, is ready to host Italy’s largest under-14 sports event, taking place from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 October.

This year’s ‘mini Olympics’, organised by CONI Sicilia (led by President Sergio D’Antoni) in collaboration with CONI’s Territorial Directorate and in partnership with the Sicily Region, the Municipality of Catania, the Municipality of Palermo, and ITA Airways, will begin on 3 October with the CONI Fair Play Games, a series of multidisciplinary sports activities centred around Olympic values. The following day, Friday 4 October, the competitions will begin, and at 6.30 p.m. in Piazza dell’Università in Catania (with a live video link to the teams based in Palermo), the Opening Ceremony will take place in the presence of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa (marking the first time in history that the first and second highest offices of state will be present at the Trofeo CONI), President of the Sicily Region Renato Schifani, President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly Gaetano Galvagno, Mayor of Catania Enrico Trantino, and the leaders of Italian sport, including CONI President Giovanni Malagò, Secretary General Carlo Mornati, and Vice President Claudia Giordani. Numerous champions from the Italia Team will also be present in Catania. The torchbearers for the event will be Olympic gold medallists Rossella Fiamingo and Alberta Santuccio, who triumphed in the women’s épée team event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Other notable guests include Luigi Busà (from Avola, Sicily, Olympic karate gold medallist at Tokyo 2020), Manila Esposito (silver medallist in the artistic gymnastics team all-around and bronze medallist on beam at Paris 2024), Matteo Melluzzo (a sprinter from Syracuse, who competed at Paris 2024 and won European gold in the 4x100m relay in Rome 2024), and ‘The Shark’ of Messina, Vincenzo Nibali (winner of both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia). Also present at the ceremony will be Tina and Milo, the official mascots of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The opening ceremony will also feature a performance by La Marionettistica dei Fratelli Napoli, founded in 1921 and considered one of the most significant expressions of Catanese-style traditional puppetry.

The following day, after the conclusion of the competitions, the Closing Ceremony will take place at Foro Italico Umberto I in Palermo (with a live video link to the teams based in Catania) at 6 p.m., during which the winning region will be announced.

The Trofeo CONI, with its “Live your Dream” slogan, is a multidisciplinary event that promotes youth participation in sport through the collaboration of the entire sporting ecosystem and the involvement of numerous sports associations. The format, strongly desired by the Italian National Olympic Committee and well received by all sporting bodies, is its main feature, a forerunner of the gender parity achieved by the IOC at Olympic level in Paris 2024.

Since its launch in 2014, thousands of young athletes have competed in territorial qualifying events to represent their regions at the National Final of the Trofeo CONI, experiencing the joy of competition, discovering new places and cultures, and nurturing their Olympic dreams. The Trofeo has also been a springboard for future champions: at the first edition in Caserta in 2014, a young Davide Di Veroli took part and won, later becoming a multiple medallist in fencing. His journey from the Trofeo CONI led him to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018, where he carried the flag and won gold, before going on to compete as part of the Italia Team at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

The National Final of the Trofeo CONI marks the culmination of a journey that begins with young athletes registered with Amateur Sports Associations (ASDs) and Amateur Sports Societies (SSDs) on the CONI National Register and affiliated with the National Sports Federations and Associated Sports Disciplines in their provinces and regions. It is a unique opportunity for growth through sport. 4500 athletes and technicians are expected to participate in Sicily, a record-breaking number compared to previous editions, representing the 21 CONI Regional Committees: among the 39 National Sports Federations and 5 Associated Sports Disciplines (another record), billiards, bowling, and cricket – the latter as a demonstration sport ahead of its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme – will debut at the Trofeo CONI.

Thanks to the NRRP ‘Tourism of Roots’ project, athletes from the Italian communities abroad representing CONI delegations from Argentina, Australia (making its debut), Brazil, the United States, and Venezuela will compete, as they did last year. In the days following the Trofeo, they will remain in Sicily to explore their ancestral roots. Their participation is one of the outcomes of the Permanent Cooperation Agreement between CONI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed at promoting Italian culture and sports internationally. This collaboration also includes sporting events such as the National Sports Day and the Trofeo CONI itself, reinforcing Italy’s global sporting community.

Among this year’s new initiatives is a three-year collaboration between CONI and the Agnelli Foundation, which in Sicily will involve, in addition to Fiamingo and Santuccio, Paralympic champion Rossana Pasquino, bronze medallist in the team foil event at Paris 2024. The three athletes will meet with middle school students from Catanese institutions, sharing their experiences of how they balanced their sporting careers with their education, excelling both in competition and in their studies.

Lazio leads the Trofeo CONI all-time rankings, having won in 2014 and in the last two editions, 2022 and 2023. It is followed by Piemonte (with victories in 2015 and 2018) and Veneto (2016 and 2019), while Lombardia claimed the title in 2017. Both ceremonies and select competitions from Trofeo CONI Sicilia 2024 will be broadcast on Italia Team TV (full schedule available HERE), CONI’s OTT streaming platform, which will dedicate four channels to the event.

Flag returned, Mattarella: “The successes in Paris confirm the excellent health of Italian sport”

• AT THE QUIRINALE

An emotional, overwhelming, and highly satisfying journey comes to an end for a team that has already made history in Italian sport.

The Salone dei Corazzieri at the Quirinale Palace in Rome hosted the official ceremony for the return of the Italian flag by the Italia Team standard-bearers from Paris 2024 to the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella (photo: Ferraro-Pagliaricci CONI).

Arianna Errigo and Gianmarco Tamberi represented the Olympic Games, and Ambra Sabatini the Paralympic Games. They led a large delegation of athletes, including medallists from Paris and those who finished in fourth place in their respective events. Also in attendance were the leading figures of Italian sport: CONI President Giovanni Malagò, CIP President Luca Pancalli, CONI Secretary General and Italia Team Head of Mission in Paris, Carlo Mornati, CONI Vice Presidents Silvia Salis and Claudia Giordani, numerous federation presidents, and the coaches who worked alongside the athletes to build Italy’s success in Paris.

In the French capital, the Italia Team achieved its best-ever Olympic medal tally: 40 medals (12 golds, 13 silvers, and 15 bronzes), the same number as the record set in Tokyo three years ago but with two more golds (12 to 10) and three more silvers (13 to 10). The ninth-place finish in the medal table confirms our country’s place among the world’s sporting elite (seventh overall in terms of podiums, third in Europe behind Great Britain and host nation France). Since the last four days of Rio 2016, Italy has never been off the Olympic podium. This streak continued in Tokyo and Paris, reaching 36 consecutive days and remains open as we look ahead to the next major target: Los Angeles 2028.

“Mr. President, thank you,” said Malagò in his speech addressed in particular to Mattarella. “The return of the flag is a ritual, but every time the sporting world comes here, to the home of Italians, there is always great emotion, there is always gratitude. You are our number one supporter. We set off with the promise to do better than Tokyo, and we did. Two more golds, a better placing, the second-best European nation behind the hosts, France. The credit goes to the athletes: they were all gladiators. Credit also goes to the coaches, officials, CONI’s Olympic Preparation Centre, and the federations. Since 18 August 2016, we won a medal on every single Olympic competition day without interruption, a streak unmatched by any other country. And then there are the fourth-place athletes, who, with your extraordinary sensitivity, you have invited. We led this ranking too, which honours us. And we also topped the ranking of fifth places: demonstrating not only the strength and depth of our team but also its quality. Usually, you would call us, this time, you were with us. In Paris, you endured adverse weather conditions, you honoured the team, and we were immensely proud of that. You visited the Olympic Village and Casa Italia, you witnessed our first medal, won by Filippo Ganna, and the second, won by Gigi Samele. Always cheering with us, proving that you are one of us. You were our first gold medal in every way. You gave us the boost to achieve this extraordinary result. We completed our mission, we made a great impression, and we gave our country a unique moment of joy. The identity of a nation is connected to the importance of its sporting achievements: we all feel proud to be Italian when we hear our anthem played at the top of a competition. From tomorrow, there will be 500 days until the next Olympics, Milano Cortina 2026. I promise we will continue to ensure that Italy remains a beacon of excellence in world sport”.

Then Pancalli took the floor: “Behind a great athlete’s achievement, there is always sacrifice, determination, commitment, and family support. We did not make any promises when receiving the flag, but we knew we had done excellent work: we exceeded expectations with two more medals than Tokyo and a sixth-place finish in the medal table. This is our best result ever, an extraordinary success. Italians have become passionate about and fallen in love with the Paralympic Games. Sport can help make a country better. And your presence at the Opening Ceremony, President Mattarella, was an immense recognition of the dignity of each and every one of us. These Games were revolutionary, we will always remember them for your presence”.

At this point, team captain Anna Danesi and the President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Giuseppe Manfredi, presented the President of the Republic with a national team jersey and the ball from the Olympic final victory against the United States. Meanwhile, Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy gifted him the discus with which he won Paralympic gold and set three world records.

“It is truly a great pleasure to meet you all here,” said Mattarella, who presented a commemorative medal to all the athletes in attendance. “This meeting is meant to extend the celebration of sport that began with the flag presentation and continued in Paris. It aims to recapture the spirit of excitement and emotion that you so brilliantly embodied at the Games. Congratulations on improving on Tokyo: it was a tough task. It is striking that Italy secured at least one medal every day. We are the only country with this record, which is a great source of pride. There were signs that these achievements were on the horizon, both in sport and beyond. It is said that rain brings good luck: we certainly had plenty of it on 26 July. We could assess and sum up these extraordinary sporting moments we have experienced, which highlight the excellent health of Italian sport. The quality of our two teams has been evident. And the successes continue, as seen in the ongoing Cycling World Championships. The fourth places represent the athletes who, even without reaching the podium, performed brilliantly: that is the Olympic spirit. They are here today as representatives of the strength of our sporting movement. The medals were not just the achievements of individual champions but of a thriving and constantly growing sporting movement – growth that must be supported in every way. We all remember the thrilling moments, the renewed triumphs, and the challenges faced: I say to Gianmarco Tamberi and Ambra Sabatini that you won your medals through your extraordinary commitment and the support of everyone. I would have been delighted to follow your events in person: but though it was only possible for a few, I assure you I watched many of them on television. Thank you all: you have lived through unforgettable days, an experience that is a great milestone but one that came at great personal cost. Thank you for inspiring young people to commit to sport. My sincere congratulations to you all. And now, onwards to Milano Cortina 2026”.

The Tricolore bids farewell to France in the hands of Fiamingo and Paltrinieri: Paris 2024 passes the baton to Los Angeles 2028

• ITALIA TEAM

The curtain comes down on the Paris 2024 Olympics. At the Closing Ceremony on the Stade de France track, the Tricolore waved farewell to the French Olympics, in the hands of fencer Rossella Fiamingo, gold medallist in the team épée event alongside her teammates Alberta Santuccio, Giulia Rizzi, and Mara Navarria, and Gregorio Paltrinieri, her partner in life, who won silver and bronze in the 1500m and 800m freestyle respectively and became the first Italian swimmer to secure five Olympic medals (one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes).

Italia Team leaves France with a haul of 40 medals (12 golds, 13 silvers, and 15 bronzes), the same number as the record set in Tokyo three years ago but with two more golds (12 to 10) and three more silvers (13 to 10). The ninth-place finish in the medal table confirms our country’s place among the world's sporting elite (seventh overall in terms of podiums, third in Europe behind Great Britain and host nation France). Since the last four days of Rio 2016, Italy has never been off the Olympic podium. This streak continued in Tokyo and Paris, reaching 36 consecutive days and remains open as we look ahead to the next major target: Los Angeles 2028.

The largest Italian delegation ever (403 athletes, made up of 208 men and 195 women) has underscored the country’s multi-disciplinary depth and competitiveness, with the number of athletes in finals rising from 67 to 79. Italy's Olympic adventure concluded with 20 fourth-place finishes and 27 fifth-place finishes, further reflecting the country’s credibility across all Olympic sporting disciplines.

Never before have women outperformed men like in this Paris edition (7 golds out of 12, with 26 women versus 5 men). It was an Olympic Games of firsts: from the historic gold in women’s volleyball (the first success for an Italian team in 20 years) to the tennis doubles gold won by Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, the Madison cycling gold by Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini, and the gold in artistic gymnastics beam by Alice D’Amato, with Manila Esposito also winning bronze. Among other milestones were the first-ever golds in the women’s team épée and the 100m backstroke with Thomas Ceccon. For the first time, medals were also won in the 10,000m athletics and the individual all-around in rhythmic gymnastics. After 100 years (and De Morpurgo’s bronze in Paris 1924), Italia Team won a medal in the men’s singles tennis thanks to Lorenzo Musetti’s bronze; after 96 years (silver in Amsterdam 1928), a medal was won in the team all-around in women’s artistic gymnastics; after 64 years, a medal was secured in the men’s C2 500m sprint canoeing with Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini; after 40 years, a medal was won in the men’s long jump with Mattia Furlani’s bronze; after 36 years, a medal was achieved in modern pentathlon with Giorgio Malan’s bronze; after 24 years, a medal was won in the men’s Madison cycling (silver Consonni-Viviani); and finally, after 12 years, Italia Team won medals in the men’s K1 slalom canoeing with Giovanni De Gennaro and in the men’s triple jump with Andy Diaz.

The next appointment is in four years, with the Olympics moving into the Californian sun. The French Olympic torch is extinguished, but the flame remains more alive than ever as it heads towards another great goal: Los Angeles 2028.

Historic gold for Italian women: Italia Team bids farewell to Paris with 40 medals, equalling the Tokyo 2020 record

• VOLLEYBALL

Ekaterina Antropova, Caterina Bosetti, Carlotta Cambi, Anna Danesi, Monica De Gennaro, Paola Egonu, Sarah Fahr, Gaia Giovannini, Marina Lubian, Loveth Omoruyi, Alessia Orro, Miriam Sylla, and Ilaria Spirito. These are the women (photo Simone Ferraro/CONI) of the Italian volleyball team who added the finishing touch to Italia Team's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In the first pavilion of the South Paris Arena, the team, under the guidance of head coach Julio Velasco, dominated the final against the United States in three sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-17), finishing the tournament unbeaten and securing a historic gold. This is the twelfth gold medal for Italy in this edition of the Games and the first-ever gold for Italian volleyball, following three silvers and three bronzes won by the men's team.

This result, achieved on the final day of competition in Paris, meant that Italy finished with a total of 40 medals (12 golds, 13 silvers, and 15 bronzes), equalling the all-time record set three years ago in Tokyo.