World Championship: Stefanie Horn and Giovanni De Gennaro qualify the two Italian K1s for Paris 2024

• CANOE SLALOM

Saturday’s competition at the Canoe Slalom World Championships brought Italia Team two more cards for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Stefanie Horn and Giovanni De Gennaro held their nerve in the British Lee Valley Water Centre (London), winning the ticket to the ten-strong final as well as one of the fifteen Olympic quotas available per gender in K1.

The 2022 European champion (photo FICK) was flawless in the semi-final, posting seventh place with a time of 105.84. Later in the showdown, she collected two painful last-gasp penalties, having to settle for sixth place with 106.54. Gold went to Australia’s Jessica Fox (103.60 and 2 penalties), who finished ahead of Slovakia’s Eliska Mintalova (104.73 and 2 penalties) and Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska (105.00).

A solid semi-final also for the Brescian, who snatched the pass for the final with the third best time (94.26), subsequently placing sixth (94.74), not close enough to be in the fray for the medals. These were shared by host Joseph Clarke (91.32), Czech Jiri Prskavec (93.26) and Moroccan Mathis Soudi (93.91).

For Italy came the third and fourth place national quotas after the two secured in men’s and women’s C1, by Paolo Ceccon and Marta Bertoncelli respectively. A heavy Olympic pass haul for Italian slalom athletes, a phenomenon that has not occurred since the London 2012 Games.

Mornati leads visit to the Olympic facilities and village for technicians from 22 disciplines

• ROAD TO PARIS 2024

Contacts with Paris are intensifying ahead of the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. From 24-27 September, a delegation of technical commissioners from 22 Olympic disciplines together with the leadership of CONI’s Olympic Preparation, led by Head of Mission and Secretary General Carlo Mornati will visit the French capital to fine-tune logistics, training management and transportation in order to be able to offer the best conditions for athletes over the Olympic period.

Together with the heads of the Organising Committee, visits to the Olympic Village have been planned and then, divided into groups, the Technical Directors will carry out inspections in the different areas where the competition and training areas are concentrated. In addition to the visits to the areas and arenas that are now being finalised, a series of thematic meetings have been arranged with area managers of the Paris 2024 organisation to delve into various aspects and critical issues.

The visits and meetings are part of a broader programme of access to the Paris 2024 Games that will continue over the following months in close contact between the federal technical directorates and CONI’s Olympic Preparation offices, as was the case in previous editions.

Carlo Mornati with the Director of Olympic Preparation, Alessio Palombi, Director of Communication Danilo di Tommaso, Head of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Giampiero Pastore and Head of Marketing, Lorenzo Pellicelli, will follow the visits and meetings with the following Technical Directors and Commissioners: Antonio La Torre (TD Athletics), Cesare Butini (TD Swimming), Vincenzo De Luca (TD Sport Climbing), Lorenzo Pugliese (TD Badminton), Paola Porfiri (Team Manager - Rhythmic Gymnastics), Alberto Tappa (SG Italian Boxing Federation), Oscar Bertone (TD Diving), Carlo Silipo (CT Women’s Water Polo), Gianluca De Dominicis (TD International - Sports Dance), Stefano Cerioni (TD Fencing - Foil), Dario Chiadò (TD Fencing - Sword), Nicola Zanotti ( TD Fencing - Sabre), Sante Spigarelli (President National Technical Commission - Archery), Laura Di Toma (TD Judo), Salvatore Avanzato (TD Wrestling), Oreste Perri (TD Canoe - Sprint), Francesco Iacobelli (Technical Sector - Canoe Slalom), Francesco Cattaneo (TD Rowing), Andrea Valentini (TD Modern Pentathlon), Roberto Amadio (Team Manager Cycling), Roberto Pentrella (SG Gymnastics Federation of Italy), Piero Capannini (Head of National Representatives - Skateboarding).

Farewell to Giorgio Napolitano, the “Collare d’Oro” President. Minute’s silence at sporting events

• CONI

Italian sport is in mourning. Giorgio Napolitano – for nine years President of the Republic (2006-2015) – the first in history to be twice re-elected, the only recipient of CONI’s Collar d’Oro for sporting merit (2016), and the last of our Heads of State to have attended the Opening Ceremony of an edition of the Olympic Games (London 2012), passed away today in Rome.

Born in Naples on June 29, 1925, Napolitano had a long political career in various institutions across the country. President of the Chamber of Deputies, Minister of the Interior, Member of the European Parliament, appointed Senator for Life by Ciampi, before his election as President of the Republic on 15 May, 2006 and subsequent re-election in 2013 until his resignation on 14 January, 2015.

During his tenure at the Quirinal his name became associated with numerous sporting events related to CONI and the Olympic world: a few days after his first election he flew to Berlin to witness Italy’s win in the football World Cup in the final against France. In 2008 he presented the Coppa Italia in football in the Olympic Stadium for the first time, allowing the trophy to be renamed the “President’s Cup”. Also in 2008, he entrusted the flag to Antonio Rossi for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2009 he inaugurated the 2009 World Swimming Championships at the Stadio dei Marmi, participating in the Opening Ceremony. Later, in 2010, he handed the tricolour flag to Giorgio Di Centa for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games; also in 2010 he hosted a reception in the Quirinal Gardens to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rome 1960, while in 2012 he delivered the flag to Valentina Vezzali for the London Olympic Games which he then attended, participating in the Opening Ceremony (accompanied by his son Giulio), with a visit the day before to the Olympic Village with the athletes (the last President of the Republic to do so). In 2014 he handed over the flag for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games to Armin Zoeggeler, and also in 2014 he was a guest at the Casa delle Armi at the Foro Italico for CONI’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

CONI President Giovanni Malagò, reflecting the sentiments of all Italian sport, on behalf of both CONI and himself, delivered the following message: “Today we mourn the passing of a great friend of sport. Giorgio Napolitano was a point of reference for us who unfailingly demonstrated his closeness and attention to us during the years he was at the Quirinal Palace. I remember him particularly at the CONI Centennial ceremony, where I had the honour of presenting him with the Collare d’Oro for sporting merit in the Salone d’Onore. Unforgettable moments of joy that we will always remember. In this moment of great sadness, I extend to his wife Clio and sons Giovanni and Giulio our deepest and most sincere feelings of condolence on behalf of Italian sport and myself.”

President Malagò invited the National Sports Federations, Associated Sports Disciplines and Sports Promotion Bodies to observe a minute’s silence at all sporting events taking place in Italy over the weekend to honour the memory of President Giorgio Napolitano.

World Championship: Ceccon wins bronze and a card for Paris 2024 in C1, Olympic pass also for Bertoncelli

• CANOE SLALOM

First strike for the national slalom canoe team at the World Championships in London. 

In the Lee Valley Olympic White Water Centre came a historic bronze medal in C1 for Paolo Ceccon (photo FICK), who also earned a card for the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

An extraordinary performance from the Italian, who went into the archives with tenth place in the semi-finals (101.22 with two penalties) guaranteeing a well-deserved ticket to the last act and, above all, one of the twelve Olympic quotas places available for each gender.

Later in the finals, the fine momentum of the Venetian did not subside, who, having taken the water course first, finished in 98.90 (zero penalties) behind Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek (first with 97.40 and zero penalties) and Frenchman Nicolas Gestin (second with 98.58 and zero penalties). 

Also noteworthy among the women was the Olympic card for Marta Bertoncelli, who finished the semi-finals in 12th place (116.85 with zero penalties).

The Ferrara-born athlete, who had already been part of Italia Team in Japan’s Tokyo 2020 expedition, had failed to gain entry into the ten-strong final, having narrowly missed out by just two positions. 

Trofeo CONI 2023, 4,000 athletes set to meet in Basilicata. Thursday the Opening Ceremony with Malagò

• EIGHTH SUMMER EDITION

All set for the eighth summer edition of the Trofeo CONI. From Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 September, the Ionian Coast of Basilicata is set to host the final phase of Italy’s largest sporting event for under-14s.

The Opening Ceremony scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. in Nova Siri Marina’s Piazza Prova d’Orchestra will officially mark the start of the ‘mini-Olympics,’ an event that promises to be a great show, organised this year by CONI Basilicata, led by President Leopoldo Desiderio, in collaboration with the CONI Territory Directorate, and in partnership with the Basilicata Region and municipalities throughout the Ionian area.

The Trofeo CONI is a multidisciplinary event that promotes sports practice among young people through the synergy of the entire sporting system and with the participation of numerous sports associations. The format, greatly desired by the Italian National Olympic Committee and well-received by all sporting bodies, is its main characteristic element, a forerunner of the gender equality that the IOC aims for at Olympic level.

The national Trofeo CONI finals mark the end of a journey initiated by the young people within their own Amateur Sports Associations and Societies in their Provinces and Regions and is, at the same time, an opportunity for growth in the name of sport. 4400 participants are expected in Basilicata, outnumbering those of previous editions: among the 35 National Sports Federations, FIPAV will return with 3vs3 beach volleyball, while in the 7 Associated Sports Disciplines, FIDAF will make its debut with flag football. Young athletes from Italian communities abroad in the United States, Brazil, Canada and Venezuela will also compete.

“The Trofeo, now in its eighth edition, is now a great success story, a winning gamble that began in Caserta in 2014,” explained CONI President Giovanni Malagò. “We will see healthy competitiveness and respect for the rules, and I am sure that this wonderful event, involving all regions, will remain in the hearts of the young people, athletes, companions and technicians.” President Malagò and CONI Vice-President Claudia Giordani will be present at the Opening Ceremony, which like the competitions and the Closing Ceremony will be broadcast on Italia Team TV, CONI’s OTT platform that for the first time will have four channels dedicated to the event.

The event, which for the first time will be hosted by Basilicata, will involve the local councils of Nova Siri, Policoro, Matera, Ferrandina, Bernalda, Pisticci, Scanzano Jonico, Rotondella, Senise and Marinella. These venues will decide the winning region of the 2023 edition of a Trofeo whose honours list features twin triumphs for Lazio (2014 and 2022), Piedmont (2015 and 2018) and Veneto (2016 and 2019). Lombardy is also on the list with a single win in 2017. The wait is about to end: the young athletes are all set to compete in the title battle.

Italy’s eventing team books its slot for Paris 2024: Olympic card clinched in team event

• EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

Italy’s eventing team will participate to the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

The Azzurri clinched the Olympic card reserved for the top-placed team at the end of the 2023 Nations Cup, excluding those nations already qualified.

Spain’s withdrawal makes the outcome of the eighth and final stage of the circuit scheduled in Boekelo (Netherlands) from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 October unimportant for the Italian squad.

The Iberian team (395 points) was the only not-yet-qualified squad able to catch up with the Azzurri (440 points) in the standings, in second spot behind already qualified Belgium (600 points).

The opponent’s withdrawal therefore shortened the qualification path for Italy, which will be represented on Dutch soil by six pairings: Evelina Bertoli on Quick Joe, Daniele Bizzarro on Stormhill Riot, Fabio Fani Ciotti on Suttogo Georg, Umberto Riva on Falconn Sunheup Z, Paolo Torlonia on ESI Bethany Bay and Giovanni Ugolotti on Billy Hennessy or Duke of Champions. Two of these will compete only as individuals.

Next summer at Chateau de Versailles (photo FISE), by contrast, Italia team will consist of three starting pairs plus one reserve.

Azzurri golds in Heraklion from beach volleyball, beach tennis and finswimming. Italia Team tops the medal table with 42 podiums

• MEDITERRANEAN BEACH GAMES

Italia Team won the medal table of the third edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games event dedicated to beach sports organised by the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (CIJM).

On the island of Crete, the Italian athletes won a total of 42 medals (13 golds, 16 silvers and 13 bronzes) improving upon the result of the last edition, where in Patras Italy had clinched 39 medals (15 golds, 13 silvers and 11 bronzes). Fundamental to the medal standings were today’s three triumphs in finswimming, beach volleyball and beach tennis, which allowed Italy to catch Greece, who came to a halt with 10 silver medals.

There were Italian celebrations on the central court of the Karteros Beach Centre in Heraklion, where the beach volleyball finals were held with three Italian pairs on the podium at the Mediterranean Beach Games.

A battle for gold between teammates in the final in the women’s table saw Reka Orsi Toth and Giada Bianchi overcoming the duo made up of Margherita Bianchin and Claudia Scampoli with a score of 21-12, 21-15.

Silver medals went to Davide Benzi and Carlo Bonifazi, pitted in the tournament’s final showdown against French brothers Quincy and Calvin Aye. The Azzurri, who earlier in the day had faced and eliminated the other Italian pair in the semi-finals, were defeated 20-22, 13-21.

Seventeen-year-old Silvia Belli triumphed in the 2 km open-water fins, finishing in 22’37”4 and edging out Spain’s Sonia Fargas Mexia by 40”. Third was Tunisia’s Sarra Ben Ahmed. In the monofin specialty, over the 4 km distance, silver went to Mara Zaghet and bronze to Davide De Ceglie. The same Zaghet and De Ceglie then took bronze in the mixed 4x2 km monofin relay, teamed alongside Silvia Sevignani and Lorenzo Caronno.

Gold medal for Nicole Nobile and Flaminia Daina in women’s beach tennis doubles thanks to a 6-0, 6-2 success in the final against France’s Claude and Mathilde Hoarau and fourth place for Sofia Cimatti and Giulia Gasparri defeated 3-6, 6-2, 10-12 in the battle for bronze with Spain’s Costa/Fenandez. Bronze for Azzurri Becaccioli/Giovannini who defeated the other Italian pair Bollettinari/Spoto 6-7, 6-2, 10-6.

In the evening, the closing ceremony with the handover of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games’ (CIJM) flag between the Greek city and Portugal’s Portimao and Lagoa, which will host the fourth edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games in summer 2027.

National Council Communiqué Pietrangeli’s 90th birthday and Stelle d’Argento (Silver Stars) for journalists Frasca, Mei and Rossi

• CONI

The 1141st meeting of the CONI National Council was held this afternoon at the Foro Italico, which opened the agenda with the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting on 25 July. Before the communications, the President presented a special plaque of honour to Nicola Pietrangeli on the occasion of his 90th birthday, which is to be celebrated today with a ceremony at CONI and later at the Circolo Canottieri Roma.

The president then presented three Stelle d’Argento for special sporting merits to three distinguished journalists who have written important pages in the annals of Italian sports: Augusto Frasca, Piero Mei and Silio Rossi. Regarding relations with institutions, Malagò updated the council on the latest developments in light of the decree-laws that came into effect regarding term limits and sporting work. Two working committees have been defined to address both topics, also in light of the fallout from the electoral limits included in the law on mandates. The president then informed the council that he will attend the opening of the academic year in Forlì on 18 September.

The latest developments regarding Milano Cortina were brought to the attention of the council, which will then be set out at the IOC session scheduled for 15-17 October in Mumbai, India. Reports on the Summer (Basilicata 21-24 Sep.) and Winter (Piedmont Dec. 16-18) Trofeo Coni were reviewed.

Secretary General Mornati took stock of medal projections for the 2024 Games and announced a final visit to Olympic venues and facilities with the Technical Directors of certain sports from next 24-27 in Paris. Great satisfaction was then expressed on analysing the sporting results from the summer, particularly the medal table from the EYOF in Maribor. After deliberating a long series of other organisational and administrative issues and taking related resolutions, the council adjourned at 4.20 p.m.

First women’s boat at the 2024 Games: Buttignon and Crosio qualify in double sculls

• ROWING

Italian rowing qualifies the first women’s boat – a fifth in total – for the Paris 2024 Games. After the passes obtained by the men in coxless pairs, double sculls, light-heavyweight double sculls and quadruple sculls, Stefania Buttignon and Silvia Crosio (photo Federcanottaggio) also qualified the women’s double sculls for next year’s Olympics.

The two Italian women finished the World Championships in Belgrade in the best possible manner, winning the B final. After a steady start, fifth on the first intermediate pass, Buttignon and Crosio shifted gears and finished in first place in a very closely balanced race ahead of Australia, Norway, China and the Netherlands, with South Africa last by a few tenths-of-a-second and excluded from the Paris Games for the time being.

No way through at the moment, however, for Davide Mumolo in single sculls. Despite a good finish, the Italian finished fifth in the B final of the World Championships, some six seconds shy of third place, the last valid for Olympic qualification.

Also fading away in the A final was the possible Olympic qualification for the women’s eight. The Azzurre finished sixth and last, missing out on one of the top five positions that would guarantee a ticket to Paris 2024. Gold medal for Romania ahead of the United States and Australia.

World Championships: Davide Comini and Giovanni Codato qualify in coxless pairs for Paris 2024

• ROWING

The weekend of the World Rowing Championships opens with another Olympic card for Italy.

Davide Comini and Giovanni Codato finished tenth in Belgrade by finishing fourth in the B final of coxless pairs.

The Azzurri thus qualify their boat for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, given that 11 national places were up for grabs in this discipline.

Only the final day of the world championship event, Sunday, 10 September, remains before the final assessment of the Olympic cards clinched by Italy can be made.