From Tamberi to success in the Davis Cup: Italian sport completes another record year with its focus already turning to Paris 2024

• ITALIA TEAM

Italia Team can toast the end of another exhilarating year.

After the record-breaking 2022, a season marked by the 17 medals obtained at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the tricolour movement has once again cemented its leading place in the international elite, confirming itself in the G8 of the world elite.

2023 overwhelmingly featured all the traits of a multi-sport country capable of reaching at least one world podium in 19 of the 34 disciplines in Paris 2024 and, overall, of collecting 16 world titles spread across the summer and winter Olympic programme. If we limit ourselves to considering only the most important European multi-sport event of the season, we should also mention the record in the medal table of the Krakow 2023 European Games with 35 gold, 26 silver and 39 bronze medals. But Italia Team also towered above everyone at the Mediterranean Beach Games 2023 in Heraklion (with 42 medals including 13 gold) and, at youth level, at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor, bringing home 46 medals (16 gold).

In the year now drawing to a close, the skiing exploits of world gold medallists Marta Bassino, Federica Brignone and Simone Deromedis, the historic first world championship of the women’s biathlon relay team, the world successes on ice with Davide Ghiotto in speed skating and Pietro Sighel in short track will remain etched in history. But that’s not all: the Italian anthem also resounded on the world championship pistes in Milan thanks to Tommaso Marini, Alice Volpi and the women’s foil and men’s epee national teams. 2023’s highlights also include Gianmarco Tamberi’s indelible victory (photo ANSA) in Budapest in the high jump, the titles of Simone Alessio in taekwondo and Matteo Zurloni in sport climbing, Elena Micheli’s historic encore in the modern pentathlon, Irma Testa’s first time in boxing and yet another thrilling triumph for Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti in the Nacra 17 sailing class.

Among the precious pieces in an all-Italian mosaic that has characterised another year of successes are the jewel in the crown of tennis with the historic victory of the Davis Cup, which returns to Italy after 47 years, and the rise of Jannik Sinner to the top of the world rankings, Francesco Bagnaia’s encore world title in Moto GP, Andrea Adamo’s title in motocross, and the women’s hour record set by Vittoria Bussi in cycling.

But now that 2023 is drawing to a close, the wait is on for a 2024 that will culminate in the Summer Olympics in Paris. Italia Team once again enters the new year with fresh ambitions and the hope of making the sporting dreams of so many Italians come true again. Olympic dreams. Happy 2024!

Niccolò Campriani enters the Walk of Fame: “An honour that makes me proud”

• CONI

The Walk of Fame of Italian sport has been enriched with the name of another legend.

On the floor of the Foro Italico, in the presence of CONI president Giovanni Malagò and the president of the Italian Shooting Union Costantino Vespasiano, multiple Olympic medallist Niccolò Campriani unveiled his plaque.

The Florentine shooter carried the Italian colours to the top in both London 2012 and Rio 2016, where he won three gold and one silver medal in the 10m air rifle and 3-position 50m rifle. His list of honours also includes a world title and three European titles. A forerunner of the dual career, he now holds the prestigious position of sports director of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

“This honour makes me proud, even if it is a strange feeling to see my name among the greats of sport,” Campriani remarked. “It’s all down to having impostor syndrome, a psychological condition that I had even when I was winning gold medals. It has always been my good fortune because I always felt the need for a gap to be filled, which led me to look for ways to improve. I had it as an athlete but also today as the sports director of the Los Angeles Games: on the one hand it is a weakness but on the other hand a great extra weapon. I thank the shooting family, the federation, CONI, and those who have contributed to my career. This plaque is a recognition of all this hard work,” the Italian athlete concluded.

“We absolutely had to dedicate a tile to Campriani,” Malagò remarked. “We are all grateful to him for the feats he has accomplished and I have enjoyed his Olympic gold medals like crazy. I'm pleased that the Americans chose him for such a prominent role. It’s safe to say that after Los Angeles 2028 no road will be closed to him, more than ever in the world of sport,” concluded the CONI president.

Collari d'Oro 2023 recipients honoured Malagò: “Sport one of Italy’s great strengths, three years of unique results”

• AT THE FORO ITALICO

Another record-breaking year, another season at the top. As 2023, the pre-Olympic year, draws to a close, Italian sport gathered at the traditional Collari d'Oro event to honour the champions who have established themselves across international stages. Italian sport’s well-deserved celebration was held in the Palazzo H’s Palestra Monumentale, inside the Foro Italico University, venue of the Collari d’Oro award ceremony. After the absence for health reasons of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Minister for Sport and Youths Andrea Abodi, CONI President Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee Luca Pancalli, CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati and the President of the CONI Benemerenze Commission Alessandra Sensini took the stage to present the highest honour of Italian sport to the awardees.

In his opening remarks, Malagò summed up this year, which represents a fundamental step towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “In life, numbers do not always give the full picture,” he pointed out in his speech, “but in sport they almost always do. We have just seen a three-year period of results never achieved before in history. CONI oversees 48 federations, there are 382 different disciplines. There are rules and regulations, dynamics for the practical implementation of the sport. Italy is the country that puts most effort into not only doing sport but doing so to a competitive standard. It is our strength but also our weakness, but it is a model that leaves no one behind. We have, therefore, won medals in disciplines you would never imagine. We can tell the same story in Paris, especially thanks to ‘new’ sports as the results. Italian sport is a leading strength of the country, and we are very proud of this.”

All this is leading up to one goal: the Games in France next year. “It is an honour and a privilege to be Italy’s Head of Delegation to Paris 2024,” said Mornati. “We’re in the final straight, there are seven months to go: it is the most important stage, the one in which the efforts of the last few years come to fruition. The athletes know they have our full support. See you in Paris.”

“We are used to working in silence, aware of the difficulties,” explained Pancalli, “but when you find the right people, the results follow. We are here to celebrate the excellence of Italian sport, the excellence of a system. Every athlete starts out from their family unit, from those who support them. The federations are doing an extraordinary job. Our system has proved once again that it is capable of excelling: there are countries that come to Italy to study us. This should be an added source of pride for all of us, because we have all earned it. What we have produced is positive not only for sport, but for the country.”

“Handing over the Collari is always an occasion of great pride and admiration,” stressed Olympian Sensini. “Sport creates unique strengths, unique people with skills that are not studied but forged on the field. Thanks to all the youngsters for flying our flag high in the world.”

President Malagò closed the ceremony: “It was a beautiful day that repays all the commitment, difficulties and bitter disappointments that have been overcome. We are pleased with the compliments received, some unexpected. Our work is recognised. Top sport is grassroots sport: you start from the bottom to get to the top”.

Photo Ferraro/Pagliaricci CONI

Italian sports Walk of Fame welcomes Tania Cagnotto: “Immense satisfaction, it will be here forever”

• CONI

The firmament of Italian sport welcomes a new star. Tania Cagnotto (photo Simone Ferraro), the most successful Italian diver of all time, has been honoured with a place on the Walk of Fame at the Foro Italico.

Inheriting her parents’ profession (her father Giorgio and mother Carmen, who were also divers, were great protagonists at national and international level in the 1970s), the Bolzano athlete, born in 1985, boasts a silver and bronze Olympic medal among her achievements won at the Rio 2016 Games. Furthermore, during her extraordinary career, the South Tyrolean has won 10 world medals (including one gold) and 29 European medals (including 20 golds).

“I am very grateful and proud,” admitted Tania Cagnotto, who unveiled the new plaque with her name on it in the presence of CONI President Giovanni Malagò, General Secretary Carlo Mornati and Vice Presidents Silvia Salis and Claudia Giordani. It gives me immense satisfaction, it will be here forever. I always gladly return here to the home of sport, where I have spent my life. Now things have changed, I am mainly a mum. But I am open to new adventures.”

“A great among the greats,” was Giovanni Malagò’s comment, sealing an unforgettable day for a legend of Italian sport.

Piedmont wins the Trofeo CONI Winter 2023! Next stop Abruzzo for the forthcoming edition

• TRIUMPH AT HOME

Piedmont is the winner of the Trofeo CONI Winter 2023. The team of the Regional Committee of President Stefano Mossino triumphed at home in the second winter edition of the leading Italian multi-sports event for under-14s, held on the snow and ice of Turin, Bardonecchia, Pinerolo and Pragelato. Lombardy came second, while Trentino completed the podium in third place. Piedmont rejoices at the end of three days of great spectacle, which began with the opening ceremony on Friday, attended by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, and during which videos of Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia, Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii were screened. Then came Saturday’s show with competitions featuring nine disciplines from the Italian Winter Sports Federation and the Italian Ice Sports Federation; it was also the first time that the Italian Triathlon Federation hit the snow, for a winter triathlon demonstration competition. Sunday was dedicated to the final races and the closing ceremony, at the end of which Cecilia D'angelo, Head of the CONI Territorial Directorate, announced the winning team. "Thanks to the athletes and to all those who contributed to delivering this splendid event," Stefano Mossino declared. “They were three fantastic, exciting and challenging days. Piedmont answered the national call and the desire to host sport in the best possible way in the 2006 Olympic venues. The greatest message this trophy leaves us with is the smiles and beauty of these youngsters. And we have shown that we can achieve great things with a united team. Sport works because it functions like one big team. And the CONI team makes wishes and dreams come true." Then came the words of Claudia Giordani, Vice President of CONI: "The Trofeo CONI is a first-class event; an occasion that we all cherish. The youngsters have made us proud: they are an example of how dreams can light up every day of our lives. In sport, you will always find support and the opportunity to be together". Piedmont succeeds Trentino, winner of the first edition in 2022, in the roll of honour of the Trofeo CONI Winter. Piedmont also becomes the first regional committee to have won both editions – summer and winter – of the Trofeo CONI (it won in 2015 in Lignano Sabbiadoro and in 2018 in Rimini). Finally, the baton was passed from Piedmont to Abruzzo, represented by the President of the CONI Regional Committee, Enzo Imbastaro. Indeed, Abruzzo will be the region hosting the third edition of the Trofeo CONI Winter, in 2024.

Second edition of Trofeo CONI Winter kicks off in Piedmont, Malagò: "A life experience"

• OPENING CEREMONY

The second edition of the Trofeo CONI Winter, which will provide entertainment on the snow and ice of Piedmont until Sunday 17 December, has officially begun. At the Pala Gianni Asti in Turin, the opening ceremony of the leading Italian multi-sports event for under-14s, who will compete representing their respective regions, was staged. Music, colours, flags, dances, the tricolour flag and the ever-present Olympic five circles dominated the ceremony of an event that for many young athletes (protagonists of the parade together with their coaches) really can represent their first step towards the Olympic Games. More than 800 participants took part in the Trofeo CONI Winter 2023 organised by CONI Piedmont, led by President Stefano Mossino, in collaboration with CONI's Territorial Directorate and in partnership with the Piedmont Region, the City of Turin and the municipalities of Bardonecchia, Pinerolo and Pragelato. Its aim is to foster sporting activity and emphasise that healthy competitiveness, encompassing both victory and defeat, is a fundamental element in the path of individual and sporting growth. "The Trofeo CONI is a life experience,” said CONI President Giovanni Malagò, also present this year at the opening ceremony. “It is a competitive event, but there is also a great sense of belonging. Italy emerged here, ancient societies and federations originated here. We feel at home. Nothing represents the territorial and national strength of the Olympic Committee more than the Trofeo CONI." Stefano Mossino, President of the CONI Piedmont Regional Committee, was also enthusiastic: "These youngsters provide emotion and passion, watching them makes us realise how beautiful sport is and the significance of the Trofeo CONI. Its goal is the growth of male and female athletes, but also friendship and inclusion: this is your moment, live your dream.” Next to speak was Gianfranco Porqueddu, former CONI Piedmont President and current President of the Italian Twirling Federation: "I take pride in the work done to deliver these three days of high-quality events". The competitions will be staged in some of the facilities used for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Piedmont welcomes you with love." Fabrizio Ricca, Piedmont Region Councillor and Councillor, then addressed the audience: "We are happy and proud that you will experience our mountains and our facilities.” Domenico Carretta, Turin Councillor for Sport, added: "It will be an extraordinary event. There is great satisfaction on our part. Playing sport together and forging relationships is fundamental for the growth of young people." Luca Salvai, Mayor of Pinerolo, also spoke: "Hosting an event like this is a source of pride and helps us to keep local areas, which face challenges, going.” There was also a video message from Raffaella Masciadri, President of the CONI Athletes' Commission and former basketball player: "I have wonderful memories of youth events. They are occasions when sport helps people to understand the value of friendship and fun. Get involved – dreams come true." Surprise video contributions were also made by some of the real stars from the Italia Team: Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia, Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii greeted the Trofeo CONI by wishing the participants good luck. Also present at the opening ceremony was CONI Vice-President Claudia Giordani, as well as various members of the Board, federal presidents, presidents of the CONI Regional Committees and regional and provincial councillors. After the recital of the anthem of the Trofeo CONI Winter 2023 by the keyboard player and composer Henoel, who is from Turin, the athletes took the oath. Subsequently, Giada Russo, a former figure skating athlete who participated in the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, lit the cauldron, and the event commenced with the opening declaration. The youngsters will compete in nine disciplines of the Italian Winter Sports Federation and the Italian Ice Sports Federation. Compared to the first edition, hosted last year by Trentino, there will also be a new addition: for the first time, the Italian Triathlon Federation will be part of the winter edition of the Trofeo with a winter triathlon demonstration competition. There will be 17 teams, made up of athletes from 19 Italian regions (Umbria and Marche will form a single team, as will Calabria and Basilicata), competing for the title that a year ago went to Trentino. Also competing will be representatives of Italian communities abroad from Argentina (competing in alpine and cross-country skiing) and Switzerland (in alpine skiing), who, as part of the NRRP’s “Turismo delle Radici” project, will have the opportunity to rediscover their family history by visiting some of their ancestors' places of origin. The initiative, which is the result of the collaboration between CONI and Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, completes a programme that started in September with representatives of Italian communities abroad from the United States, Brazil, Canada and Venezuela on the occasion of the eighth summer edition of the Trofeo CONI held in Basilicata. On this topic, Paolo Monea of MAECI stressed: "The power of sport in uniting people and populations is unparalleled". The event will be broadcast on Italia Team TV, CONI's OTT platform, which will dedicate three channels to the event (VIEW SCHEDULE HERE). The wait is over, now it’s over to the competitions to deliver their verdicts: the Trofeo CONI Winter 2023 begins.

World Cup: second place in Vancouver, men's epee also flies to Paris 2024

• FENCING

Men’s epee books ticket to Paris 2024. After the women’s foil, the World Cup weekend that has just ended also results in Olympic qualification for the national team coached by Dario Chiadò. In the team event, at dawn in Italy, the Italian men’s team ended the World Cup epee leg in Vancouver on the second step of the podium, yielding only in the final against Japan (32-27). With two competitions remaining, this result reaffirms the Azzurri's position at the head of the Olympic Qualification Ranking, allowing them to preempt entry to the 2024 Games. Meanwhile, the Italian women’s team concluded the competition in Canada in fifth place, mirroring their performance from the first event of the world championship circuit held a month ago in Legnano. On the Canadian pistes, Italy, the reigning world champion in men’s epee, and featuring Valerio Cuomo in the quartet (in place of the unavailable Gabriele Cimini), along with Davide Di Veroli, Federico Vismara, and Andrea Santarelli, delivered an outstanding performance. They triumphed in the first round against Australia with a score of 45-27, progressed through the round of 16 against Poland with a 35-30 victory, and secured a place in the semi-finals by overcoming the Czech Republic, defeated 37-35 in a sustained assault by the Italian team. In the semi-finals, the team led by coach Dario Chiadò on the bench and staff coach Enrico Di Ciolo delivered another show of strength against Venezuela: a perfect match ended 44-36, opening the door to the showdown for the Azzurri. In the final, it was a battle between the two reigning world title holders, Italy, and the Olympic gold medallist in men’s epee, Japan. The Japanese initially held a lead of +6, but one after the other, Di Veroli, Santarelli, and Vismara managed to narrow the gap. In the ninth and final bout between Di Veroli and Kano, the score was tied just seconds from the end at 26-26. However, in the face of a last “desperate” attempt to stage a comeback by the Italian team, the Japanese increased their advantage, celebrating the final result of 32-27. Italy returns home with a runner-up spot and a ticket to Paris 2024, which will allow them to field three epees in the individual event. They achieve this as a team, offering a special dedication to Gabriele Cimini (with a banner reading “Forza Cimo” displayed by his teammates on the podium), who was unable to join them on their Canadian outing.

Women's national foil team grabs second place in Novi Sad, earning a ticket to the Olympic Games

• FENCING

The women’s national foil team is the first Italian fencing team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Reigning world champions Arianna Errigo, Martina Favaretto, Alice Volpi and Francesca Palumbo complete a sought-after, desired and well-deserved mission at the World Cup stage in Novi Sad. The Italians started by sweeping past Singapore (45-23), before triumphing against Germany (45-22). In the semi-finals, Italy beat Japan 45-31, while the last act saw the United States take victory (45-37). The second place in Serbia guarantees our athletes, still first in the ranking, a place at the Olympics with two competitions to go. This ticket to Paris entitles Italy to participate in the speciality team competition and also to field the maximum number possible, three foil fencers, in the individual event. Meanwhile, hopes are high that the other Italian fencing teams, including the men’s foil team, will also complete their Olympic mission.

Azzurri coaches gather in Rome for “The Female Athlete” seminar. Pastore: "Topic close to our hearts, CONI believes in initiatives like this"

• IMSS CONI

A meeting full of meaning and interesting arguments about sporting dynamics on and off the field. In the Aula Magna of the “Giulio Onesti” Olympic Preparation Centre in Rome, “La Donna Atleta (the Female Athlete)” was held. The seminar, organised by the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, was aimed at technical directors, coaches, doctors and federal staff. There was a significant response from the various Federations represented here today, to which the IMSS will make available all the contributions of the experts who took part. Hosting duties were performed by Giampiero Pastore, Olympic sabre medallist at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and Head of the CONI Institute of Medicine and Sport Science, who passed on greetings from the CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati – who was busy in Milan with the Board of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation – and introduced the event: "We strongly believe in initiatives like this one, it is a seminar that is outside of the box compared to previous ones. We are dealing with a topic that is very much on everyone's mind – so much so that Paris 2024 will be the first Summer Olympics with gender parity, and it is a growing trend at the Winter Games too.” Giuseppe Vercelli, Consultant at the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, then spoke: "Female athletes have much more measurable goals than a non-athlete. Compared to male athletes, they also place more emphasis on social cohesion, are more open to different leadership styles, have more frequent conversations on personal issues with coaches, and communicate based more on acceptance and self-disclosure. Communication is fundamental, but we must never forget that, done wrong, it can cause harm.” Physical trainer Andrea Cardone, another consultant at the Institute, addressed the issue of gender differences in the style of conducting training: "Talent is a multifaceted natural gift, but it must be nurtured over time. You have to train learning as well as performance. The goal is to make skills operational and practical in training and competition. I believe in a dynamic approach that takes into account that the expression of skill is only found in athletes’ intuition. The four pillars of learning, which are very important for the female gender, are focus, active involvement, returning to the error and consolidation. The performance characteristics that indicate learning are consistency, persistence, improvement and adaptability. The coach must give support but also leave some autonomy to the athlete. Men want to feel involved, women recognised and unique." This was followed by the speech of Valentina Turisini, silver medallist in shooting at Athens 2004 and member of the National Technical Commission, who said: "Women find it harder to be perceived as competent. I think it is important to work with individuals, regardless of their gender. A human being will never give you credit if they do not feel seen and considered by you. Mixed environments, especially when it comes to team sports, are the most balanced.” Enrico Maria Sbardella, shared his experience as Coordinator of the Federcalcio's Women's Youth National Teams: "We always try to adapt tactical situations by taking into account the characteristics of female players. Off the pitch, women are more interested in mistakes – they want more specific information. Key passes and balls won in the opponent's half of the field are the two main factors we analyse." This was followed by the intervention of Daniele Molmenti, London 2012 Olympian and current Technical Director of Canoe Slalomfor the Italian Canoe Kayak Federation: "Working on the differences means exploiting the strengths of women athletes compared to men. We need to focus on natural characteristics, for example elegance in canoeing. Rhythm and applied energy lead women to perform as required in our discipline," he says. "The level and international scale of a competition affect the management aspect of the group," explained Marco Mencarelli, Technical Director of the Federvolley's National Women's Youth Teams and Club Italia projects. Women's volleyball has changed a lot in how competition opportunities arise and in the classifying of those opportunities. Today we have an significant number of female athletes of each generation. I notice gender differences in the immediate handling of defeat: this is something else that is important to work on". The Technical Director of the Italian Rowing Federation, Franco Cattaneo, recounted the major developments in his national team: "About ten years ago, women's rowing changed. We placed an entire team of staff at the disposal of women. It was a very large cultural change. From a methodological point of view, we changed the women's approach to physical training and weightlifting. Today, even in the gym, women train with the same intensity as men, but clearly with different programmes. This also improves their self-esteem; the whole environment benefits. In addition, we have worked to increase competition in the water between the female athletes in training, because to improve you have to “fight” every day, avoiding sparing yourself out of respect for more experienced athletes." In the afternoon, Alberto Di Mario, Consultant at the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, introduced the topic of training female athletes, and then left time for reflections from professionals who addressed the topic from different perspectives. First up was Antonio Gianfelici, Sports Physician and Consultant at the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science: "If there is such a thing as gender medicine, I don't see why we can't talk about gender training today. Different sensitive phases in the growth of a woman compared to that of a man have always been identified. Moreover, one cannot overlook the impact – including from an emotional perspective – of the menstrual cycle. In any case, it is necessary to think about athlete-centric training, because every human being is different, regardless of gender." Then came Paolo Sangalli, Technical Director of the Federciclismo women's national road team, who analysed the fact that “in cycling there is gender parity in many aspects” and took stock of the Azzurri's qualification path to Paris 2024. The speech by Antonio La Torre, Technical Director of the Italian Athletics Federation, was particularly engaging: "We know very little about women. I hope that in the next four-year Olympic period training courses will be organised solely for women, otherwise it will always be only men who talk about women. There is a language problem that we always overlook. In Italy we have a lot to explore in the female arena, when you consider that great powers like the United States have been investing in this area for years. The world of sport is trying to make progress, sometimes going against the tradition of countries where women are actually forbidden to play sports. There are studies that show that science knows little or nothing about women. Women are adaptable, for example, in terms of their body fibres: why can a female swimmer be competitive in both the 100 and 800 metres, while male swimmers cannot? In the area of training methodology, we really need to study the female world a great deal." The seminar was rounded off by contributions from Professor Andrea Ferretti, Health Director of the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, and Dr. Maria Rosaria Squeo, Health Director of the Olympic Area of the Institute. "Men and women are different athletes for anatomical, biomechanical, neuromuscular, cartilage, bone density – and sometimes surgical or menstrual cycle and hormone-related – reasons,” explained Ferretti. “Doctors, as well as coaches, must have deep knowledge of scientific concepts. But when we have to solve a problem we need to come up with something different, that goes beyond gender. I don't know whether medicine is a science or an art. For me, it is an art based on strict scientific knowledge. I believe that the coach is also an artist: when they manage to bring out the best in an athlete, they create a work of art.” "Women are complex organisms, and in pregnancy this becomes even more the case, as they undergo more sudden changes," Squeo pointed out. "In this period, physical activity can only do good and reduce the risks to which pregnant women may be exposed, if the nutritional approach is also correct. Our Athletes in Maternity Project stems precisely from the absence of guidelines for high-level athletes”.

2023 Literary and Journalism Awards presented, Malagò: "Honoured to carry on this tradition"

• CONI

The award ceremony for the winners of the 57th National Literary Competition, the 52nd Concorso Nazionale per il Racconto Sportivo (National Competition for Sports Storytelling) and the CONI-USSI 2023 Awards was held in the CONI Salone d’Onore at the Foro Italico in Rome. The event was attended by the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, the Secretary General, Carlo Mornati, the President of the National Competition for Sports Storytelling, Giulio Anselmi, the President of the National Literary Competition Paolo Garimberti, the President of the Italian Sports Press Union, Gianfranco Coppola, and Ivana Tosatti, the wife of Giorgio, after whom the special “Una Penna per lo Sport (A Pen for Sport)' Award” is named. "It is a tradition that continues and of which we are very proud," Malagò pointed out in his opening remarks. "There is a special feeling about this award ceremony, which is beautiful because it is varied: there are professionals from very different categories, there is the award in memory of the great Giorgio Tosatti, and more besides. I am very happy to have the honour of carrying on this tradition, which remains a fixture. Being judged by one's own profession is never very easy.” Praise for the contestants came from the President of the National Literary Competition, Paolo Garimberti. Giulio Anselmi, President of the National Competition for Sports Short Stories, also said he was "very satisfied" with the entries received. "Our jury," stressed Gianfranco Coppola, President of the USSI, "finds itself every year judging colleagues in the field, with the exception of the lifetime achievement award, which seals an extraordinary professional career and can boast leading names in its roll of honour. The awards are captivating. It is almost like the presentation of the Oscars: the truth is that sport is a blockbuster". Closing the ceremony was the awarding of the CONI “Una Penna per lo Sport – Giorgio Tosatti” prize to Marino Bartoletti: "I cannot hide my emotion. I am pleased and proud to receive this award in a venue that has significantly contributed to my personal, professional, and cultural development. Giorgio Tosatti was a master. Forty years ago I received the prize for young journalists and it was he who presented it to me. Sport has changed, the narrative of sport has changed – but we have always remained the same. Sport is culture applied to society in everyday life, and these awards are a starting point. We must maintain competence, seriousness and loyalty to our only masters, who are our readers, because we do the most beautiful job in the world. We are in good hands".