Paris 2024 Olympic Flame Lighting ceremony

• SYMBOLIC MOMENT

The lighting of the Olympic flame is a symbolic moment that has been a tradition of the Olympic Games since 1936. The flame not only represents the positive values that man has always associated with the symbolism of fire, such as peace and friendship, but also acts as a link between the ancient and modern Games.

The Olympic flame that will burn throughout the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be lit during a ceremony on Tuesday 16 April in an ritual that harks back to the traditions of Ancient Greece.

The idea for the Olympic flame itself comes from the ceremonies of the ancient Olympic Games, which took place in Olympia, Greece on the very site where the Olympic flame lighting ceremony will take place for Paris 2024.

EOC Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul

• FOURTH EDITION

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Executive Committee (ExCom) at the meeting held on March 20th unanimously awarded the 4th edition of the European Games, in 2027, to Istanbul.

The carefully-considered decision was taken after EOC Sport Director, Peter Brüll, presented a detailed evaluation report to the ExCom. The report follows an evaluation visit to Istanbul by a delegation of EOC experts in early March. The EOC experts looked at all aspects of the city’s capabilities to host the Games including venues, transport, security, accommodation and athlete facilities.

Commenting on the ExCom decision, EOC President Spyros Capralos said: “The EOC is delighted to have approved Istanbul’s candidature to host the European Games 2027. It is a great news for both Europe’s athletes and the city. Istanbul and Turkey have long been good friends of international sport, with Istanbul having woven sport into the fabric of everyday life for the benefit of its citizens. We know it will be the perfect place for Europe’s best athletes to shine in 2027”.

Further building on the success of Kraków-Malopolska 2023, the EOC and the Istanbul team resolved to ensure an even higher proportion of the competitions serve as qualification events for the Olympic Games LA 2028. This would enable future Turkish Olympians to qualify on home soil, supported by a home audience that includes friends and family.

Istanbul’s venue plan for the European Games 2027 would see no additional construction beyond the venues either already built or already planned for the city.

The Executive Committee’s decision will be presented to the EOC General Assembly in Bucharest in June, for final approval and signing of the relevant contracts.

Photo ANSA

Kite: Riccardo Pianosi and Maggie Eillen Pescetto selected for the Olympic Games

• SAILING

It will be Riccardo Pianosi and Maggie Eillen Pescetto defending the colours of the Italia team in the men's and women's kite races at the Olympic Games.

The Italian sailors chosen for Paris 2024 (although the sailing competitions will be held in Marseille) are the same individuals who secured their Olympic berths at last year's World Championships.

“This is a particularly happy moment in my career,” says Pianosi, fresh from his third consecutive European medal. “Knowing that I will be representing my country at the Olympic Games is a source of great pride. I can't really find the right words to describe this moment, but I feel I must thank everyone who has been close to me: my family and my girlfriend, who have always given me a hand, even in difficult moments, enabling me to achieve this goal. Thanks to the federation and the Navy who made this possible. I'm looking forward to the Games and, dare I say, aiming for a noteworthy performance. I think I can do it and bring home a great result for my country.”

Pescetto was also enthusiastic: “Being able to represent Italy at the Olympic Games is news that left me speechless. The dedication and effort of these years have finally paid off with an opportunity that enables me to fulfil a dream that began long ago. I had discussed it with my grandfather, my greatest supporter and the individual to whom I wholeheartedly dedicate this moment: I knew the road would be long, but he has always supported me as well as my family and my mother, in particular, who has always been close to me. There were challenging moments, as it's natural for any athlete to experience, but all those difficulties fade away when you achieve such a prestigious goal. The great happiness will turn into motivation to give my best”.

World Cup, mission accomplished for the Italian sabre fencers: all of Italy's teams have qualified for Paris

• FENCING

The last stage of Olympic qualification for the men's sabre national team closed with a smile.

The quartet of Luigi Samele, Luca Curatoli, Pietro Torre and Michele Gallo, who were competing in the World Cup on the Budapest (Hungary) pistes, managed to win the ticket for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Italy’s (photo FIS) path in the team competition began with a commanding 45-33 triumph over China, only to be halted in the quarter-finals by the United States, who clinched the victory with a score of 45-39.

For coach Nicola Zanotti's boys, the subsequent elimination of Germany in the semifinals, beaten 45-39 by South Korea, was decisive, allowing the Italian team to consolidate its status as the best European nation behind the top four teams in the world ranking.

Italian fencing has achieved a clean sweep in Olympic qualifications, securing spots for the foil teams, as well as those of epee and sabre for women. Just like in Tokyo 2020, they'll be heading to the French capital with all six of their representatives.

Doha World Championships, 10 km: Acerenza and Verani deliver two Olympic passes to Italia Team

• MARATHON SWIMMING

Italy did not fail to show up in the men's 10 km of marathon swimming.

At the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Domenico Acerenza (photo Federnuoto) swam an excellent race without ever losing contact with the leading group and eventually finished in seventh place with a time of 1:48:30.40.

Also doing well was the other Italian athlete in the race, Dario Verani, who, thanks to a splendid second half of the race, finished right behind his national teammate, in eighth place with a time of 1:48:30.80.

Their respective final positions guarantee an Olympic pass apiece (nation place) for the Italia Team for Paris 2024. That means two more Olympic quota spots in addition to the one won in the women's race by Arianna Bridi.

Olympic pass for Antonio Esposito: the Italian will be in Paris 2024

• JUDO

The number of Italian judo athletes qualified for Paris 2024 has risen to eight.

After Manuel Lombardo, Christian Parlati, Alice Bellandi, Odette Giuffrida, Assunta Scutto, Asya Tavano, and Veronica Toniolo, Antonio Esposito has clinched the Olympic pass in the -81 kg category.

Protagonist of an excellent start to the season made even more precious by his victory at the Linz Grand Prix and consequent entry into the top 10 of the Olympic qualification ranking, the 2018 Tel Aviv European bronze medallist, who secured Italy a place for the French Games in his weight category, has been officially selected by the FIJLKAM National Technical Directorate.

The selection of Esposito (photo IJF) for the Olympic team is final, regardless of any potential alterations in the Olympic Ranking List, even if it benefits other Azzurri. This choice guarantees him a tailored preparation, ensuring an optimal approach to the prestigious event.

Women's Sabre World Cup: National team makes it to the quarter-finals in Sint-Niklaas and qualifies for the Olympic Games

• FENCING

Italian fencing wins another spot at Paris 2024.

With both the Italian foil and epee teams already qualified for the Olympic Games, it was the turn of the women's sabre national team to reach the goal in the last Olympic Qualification stage of the World Cup.

On the piste in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, Michela Battiston, Martina Criscio, Chiara Mormile and Irene Vecchi (photo Federscherma) beat Greece 45-32, then were defeated 45-41 by Hungary in the quarter-finals. Ukraine's simultaneous victory over the United States in the same round sealed the outcome: Italy go to the Olympics.

The team's qualification allowed coach Nicola Zanotti to field three athletes in the individual Olympic competition.

At this point, only one team is missing for a clean sweep: next weekend in Budapest, the men's national sabre team will compete for the same goal. If the outcome is favourable, the Italian team will join all fencing teams in Paris.

Italia Team exceeds quota number 200! The Italian triathlon mixed relay team flies to Paris 2024

• HISTORIC QUALIFICATION

Italia Team exceeds quota number 200! The triathlon mixed relay team has secured the crucial Olympic spots necessary to surpass Italy's quota of 200 qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the 4 national slots secured by the triathlon (2 per gender), the total count of Italia Team athletes participating in the French Olympic event now stands at 203, comprising 102 women and 101 men.

The official statement was released by World Triathlon, which, after the cancellation of the World Triathlon Championship Series, Para Cup, and Mixed Relay stage in Abu Dhabi due to adverse weather conditions, has opted, following consultations with the Technical and Athletes Committee, not to reschedule the event. This choice respects the original closing date of the relay ranking, set for March 25th.

With no further events on the calendar, the ranking is now “frozen”, and Italy, currently in eighth place, sits behind Great Britain (runner-up at the 2022 World Championships), Germany (winner of the 2023 World Championships), and France (host country). Italy is among the top six nations in the ranking, guaranteeing direct qualification for Paris 2024. Each gender will have two athletes participating in the individual events.

This marks a historic achievement for FITRI (photo ANSA), as its athletes qualify for the Olympics without the need for repechage or individual rankings for the first time. Furthermore, the team will participate in the mixed specialty, which was introduced into the Olympic program in Tokyo 2020.

Full house for Italy at the pre-Olympic in Busto Arsizio: Lenzi, Charaabi, Carini and Mesiano claim their tickets for Paris

• BOXING

Italy pulls off a stunning final day of the World Olympic qualifying tournament.

In the first session of bouts in the rings of the E-Work Arena in Busto Arsizio, Diego Lenzi (+92 kg/photo FPI), Sirine Charaabi (54 kg) and Angela Carini (66 kg) won out in their respective quarter-final engagements, obtaining one of the individual passes for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris reserved for the four best athletes in their weight categories.

It was absolute domination for the Bolognese, who won by a unanimous verdict (5-0) over Bahrain's Danis Latypov. The girl from Caserta also turned in an excellent performance, prevailing by non-unanimous verdict (4-1) over the tough Korean Aeji IM. No problems, finally, for the Neapolitan, who stopped the Cape Verdean Ivanusa Moreira with a unanimous verdict (5-0).

Then, in the evening, Alessia Mesiano (60 kg) completed the Italian celebration. 48 hours after her defeat in the semifinals by split decision (3-2) against Donjeta Sadiku from Kosovo, she was able to make up for it in the decisive play-off match. Here, in fact, she overcame Slovakia's Miroslava Jedinakova with a unanimous verdict (5-0), securing the last Olympic pass at stake in her category.

The Italia Team, waiting for the last world qualifying tournament, can count on eight five-round quotas in boxing after the other four obtained last June at the European Games in Krakow (Poland) by Salvatore Cavallaro (80 kg), Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine (92 kg), Giordana Sorrentino (50 kg) and Irma Testa (57 kg).

Magic Ilenia Matonti: she dominates the pre-Olympic in Sofia and gifts Italy pass for Paris in the -49 kg class

• TAEKWONDO

A remarkable performance from Ilenia Matonti on the opening day of the European taekwondo Olympic qualifying tournament.

At the venue in Sofia (Bulgaria), the 19-year-old from Salerno wrapped up her performance in the -49 kg division without conceding any rounds, deservedly earning one of the Olympic berths reserved for the top two athletes.

It was an exciting journey for the nineteen-year old (photo FITA), who made her debut by dominating proceedings against the Finnish Ida-Elina Tammila 2-0 (R1 10-0/R2 13-0). Then came another very convincing victory against Germany's Ela Aydin 2-0 (R1 10-0/R2 13-0), granting her a place in the semifinals and a decisive triumph against Sweden's Indra Boden 2-0 (R1 3-1/R2 9-6).

For the Italia Team, which makes its return to a women's Olympic competition after 16 years, this is the third Olympic pass from taekwondo after those secured through the world ranking by Vito Dell'Aquila (-58 kg) and Simone Alessio (-80 kg).