Buonfiglio and Mornati meet FIP President Petrucci and Italy men’s basketball team at the 'Giulio Onesti' Olympic Training Centre
- CONI
CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, together with General Secretary Carlo Mornati, today met FIP President Giovanni Petrucci and the men’s national basketball team, who are currently in camp at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Training Centre at Acqua Acetosa (photo: FIP).
The meeting provided an opportunity to underline CONI’s support ahead of the upcoming competitive commitments involving the Azzurri, who at this stage are being led by Head Coach Marco Ramondino, due to family-related issues that have prevented head coach Luca Banchi from joining the group.
The national team are preparing for friendly tests against Croatia, scheduled for 24 June in Gorizia at 7.30pm, and against Slovenia, away in Celje on 27 June at 8pm. The two matches will precede the fixtures on 2 July in Reykjavik against Iceland and on 5 July against Lithuania in Bologna, part of the third and final window of the first phase of qualification for the Doha 2027 World Cup.
Istanbul 2027 logo revealed as one-year to go countdown
- EUROPEAN GAMES
The 4th European Games – Istanbul 2027’s bold logo and branding have been unveiled as the EOC and the Organising Committee mark one year until Europe’s premier multi-sport event returns in the heart of Türkiye.
Europe’s best athletes will gather in the continent’s biggest city from 16-27 June and as the countdown continues, the Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee has revealed the logo which will serve as the face of the European Games across all branding, capturing the spirit of a city that has long stood at the crossroads of cultures, continents and civilisations.
Anchoring the design is an artistic silhouette of the Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge), one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, symbolising the city’s unique role in connecting Europe and Asia. Inspired by Istanbul’s position between two continents, the emblem incorporates tulip petals representing Europe and Asia, reflecting unity, diversity and cultural exchange. Rising above the bridge, the European Games flame embodies the passion, energy and ambition of sport, while the emblem’s vibrant colours reflect sustainability and celebrate the diversity of athletes, cultures and sporting disciplines that will come together in Istanbul in 2027. Together, these elements create a powerful symbol of unity through sport and of a city that connects continents, cultures and people.
With 26 sports confirmed on the programme, including 22 Olympic sports, Istanbul 2027 promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for Europe's best athletes and the fans who will pack the city's iconic venues. It will provide Olympic qualification opportunities across most sports, building on the success of Krakow-Malopolska 2023 and carrying on European sport's unprecedented momentum following the huge success of Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026.
EOC President Spyros Capralos looked ahead with anticipation to the 4th European Games. President Capralos said: “Today marks an exciting milestone as we celebrate one year until Istanbul 2027. The European Games have grown into a truly special occasion for our continent, and we are confident that Istanbul will take the event to new heights. Türkiye’s passion for sport, its track record of delivering world-class events and our strong working relationship with the Organising Committee give us every confidence that athletes and fans alike will experience something truly unforgettable next year in one of the world’s great cities”.
The Chair of the EOC’s Coordination Commission for the 4th European Games and EOC Executive Committee member Mihai Covaliu paid tribute to the progress made by the Organising Committee. He said: “One year from today, Europe will come together in Istanbul for the 4th European Games. As we mark this important milestone, we celebrate far more than the countdown to a major sporting event. We celebrate the power of sport to bring people together, to create opportunities and to build bridges between nations, cultures and generations. It is fitting that the symbol of Istanbul 2027 is a bridge. A bridge that connects continents, but also connects athletes with their dreams, countries with one another, and a new generation of champions with the Olympic future that awaits them in Los Angeles 2028. Over the next year, the excitement will continue to grow. Thousands of Europe’s finest athletes will prepare to compete, inspire and pursue their Olympic ambitions on one of the greatest stages in international sport. Together with our partners in Türkiye and the Organising Committee, we are building more than a sporting event. We are building a celebration of unity, excellence and friendship that will leave a lasting legacy for sport across Europe. The journey to Istanbul 2027 is well underway, and we look forward with great anticipation to the year ahead”.
Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee CEO Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır underlined the ambition and readiness of the city. “Istanbul has always dreamed big, and the 4th European Games give us the opportunity to show the world what this extraordinary city can do. Our team has been working tirelessly to ensure that every athlete who comes here feels the warmth of Turkish hospitality and competes in world-class conditions. We cannot wait to welcome Europe to Istanbul in one year's time,” he said.
The 4th European Games Istanbul 2027 will take place from 16-27 June and further details on competition venues, ticket sales and how fans from across Europe can get closer to the action will be announced in the coming months.
The Turismo delle Radici project and the launch of the Trofeo CONI 2026 celebrated, Buonfiglio: “Sport can make the world a better place”
- CONI AND MAECI
An event organised by CONI in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) was held at Piazzale della Farnesina to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase of the Turismo delle Radici project and the launch of the Trofeo CONI 2026.
The protagonists were the delegations of under-14 athletes from the Italian Communities Abroad in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the United States, Switzerland and Venezuela, accompanied by coaches, CONI CIE Delegates and more than one hundred Mayors of the Comuni delle Radici, offering concrete testimony to their participation in the entire project linked to sporting activity, in particular through the on-field organisation of the CONI Fair Play Games, multidisciplinary sporting activities inspired by the IOC’s Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP). Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Italian Swimming Federation President Paolo Barelli, Settebello head coach Sandro Campagna and former cycling star Vincenzo Nibali.
Turismo delle Radici is the initiative promoted by MAECI and funded under the NRRP to strengthen the bond with more than 80 million Italians and people of Italian descent around the world and to enhance Italy’s small municipalities and villages, an initiative that enabled girls and boys to take part in both the summer and winter editions of the Trofeo CONI.
After the parade and the performance by the musical groups that won the 2026 competition for the promotion of popular and amateur music, the young athletes completed a CONI Fair Play Games course and were presented with plaques as ‘Young Ambassadors of Sports Diplomacy’. This was followed by a culinary demonstration by Michelin-starred chef Alessandro Circiello and a tasting session as part of the launch of Italian Pasta Day in the World, the screening of the video story of the Trofeo CONI and the Viaggi delle Radici, the performance of the Italian national anthem, Il Canto degli Italiani, by the Band of the Carabinieri, and the institutional speeches.
The first to speak was Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani: “We are celebrating Turismo delle Radici and launching phase two of the project. We are delighted to let these young people feel the call of Italy, to enable them to speak Italian, and to discover where their grandparents or parents set out from before going to live abroad. It is a way of being part of the great Italian community. Sport is a tool for unity: there are many athletes, just as there are many actors, of Italian origin around the world. Italy has ‘sent’ many important figures around the globe. And there are many young people who deserve to feel at home in Italy. Turismo delle Radici is an extraordinary opportunity for Italy. The aim of the project is to help people rediscover parts of Italy that are not normally known. I wanted the project to be targeted at smaller municipalities. Italy’s major cities do not need extensive promotion, while few people know just how beautiful the Italy of villages and small municipalities is. This is also why we wanted the Giro d’Italia to become an ambassador for Italy around the world. These places preserve the memories of our migrants, the languages and dialects of those who left many years ago but remain strongly attached to Italy. We wanted to involve the mayors directly because it is right to give them recognition, including moral recognition, for what they do. The results are extraordinary and we are aware that we can do even more”.
“Turismo delle Radici is something unique that is handed down through time and space,” added Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi. “It is an issue to which we want to give particular attention. We know that many Italians have left the country over the years to go abroad. As the data show, Turismo delle Radici represents a fast-growing segment within the global tourism sector. With figures of between 60 and 80 million people, Turismo delle Radici is a strategic lever for development. There are many positive aspects that have an impact on local areas”.
CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio closed the event: “Once again, Minister Tajani has involved sport and focused attention on sport and its values. His speech highlights the pride of being Italian and of what we are doing. When we do our duty, when we are successful protagonists, we generate enthusiasm. Sport is playing a leading role. We are winning everywhere. Today, even Ferrari returned to success: Italian industry excelling. The Minister gives us attention, and we take on responsibility: sport has great value in making the world a better place. Our task is difficult, but Italian style and method are becoming a style and method to be emulated. But we must improve further”.
Turismo delle Radici e Trofeo CONI celebrati alla Farnesina
Francesca Lollobrigida in Los Angeles for the Italian Consulate General’s Tribute to the 80th Anniversary of the Italian Republic, with an Eye on LA28
- AT THE MEMORIAL COLISEUM
Francesca Lollobrigida joined the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic in Los Angeles alongside the Italian Consulate General.
A special initiative designed to celebrate the Italian Republic in the United States through the power of the universal values embodied by sport.
At the invitation of Consul General Raffaella Valentini, the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Republic with a major event hosted at the iconic Memorial Coliseum. The occasion also provided an opportunity to symbolically join the National Day of Sport, scheduled to take place on Sunday 7 June.
The participation of Olympic champion Francesca Lollobrigida, gold medallist in the 3,000m and 5,000m speed skating events at the most recent Winter Olympic Games, was among the most significant moments of the celebration. Her presence reaffirmed the strong connection between sport, institutions and public diplomacy along the pathway linking Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028.
At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which will make history by becoming the first venue to host three editions of the Olympic Games (1932, 1984 and 2028), Francesca Lollobrigida took part in the evocative ceremony alongside Consul General Raffaella Valentini and institutional representatives. The event represented a highly symbolic moment dedicated to the passing of the Olympic baton between the most recent Games hosted in Italy and the forthcoming Summer Games that will be staged in the United States.
The Olympian also joined a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where she paid tribute to the presence and contribution of Italians in Hollywood throughout the history of the American film industry. This legacy is symbolically represented by the star dedicated to actress Gina Lollobrigida, of whom Francesca is the great-grandniece.
The mission also included a visit to the headquarters of the LA28 Organising Committee, providing an opportunity to discuss preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to explore potential areas of collaboration between Italy and the United States in the fields of sport, youth development and the promotion of Olympic values.
The celebrations of Republic Day and the Tricolour Day of Sport in Los Angeles provided a high-profile platform for promoting Italy’s contemporary image abroad. This was made possible through the close cooperation between the Consulate General and CONI, also through the Italia Team dimension, which continues to highlight the role of sport as a universal language of dialogue and international cooperation.
President Buonfiglio presents the Palma d’Oro to Italy women’s basketball head coach Capobianco
- CONI
CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio today presented the Palma d’Oro for Technical Merit to Andrea Capobianco, Head Coach of the Italian women’s national basketball team and President of the FIP National Coaches Committee.
Opening the proceedings of the FIP Federal Council, held in the Salone d’Onore at CONI, Buonfiglio paid tribute to the career of a coach who last year guided the Azzurre to the bronze medal at the Women’s EuroBasket, taking Italy back onto the continental podium after 30 years and also receiving from FIBA the award for best coach of the tournament. In 2026, the national team led by Capobianco returned to the World Cup after 32 years.
The award ceremony, held before the Federal Council, was attended by FIP President Gianni Petrucci, Vice Presidents Federico Casarin and Margaret Gonnella, and Secretary General Maurizio Bertea.
President Buonfiglio presents the Stella d'Argento to Lega Serie A Chief Executive De Siervo
- CONI
Lega Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo today received the Stella d'Argento for Sporting Merit in the CONI Hall of Honour.
The award was presented by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, who opened the proceedings of the Lega Serie A Assembly, gathered in Rome on the occasion of the Coppa Italia final between Lazio and Inter, scheduled to take place this evening at the Stadio Olimpico.
Italy receives the Olympic Cup for its support of Milano Cortina 2026. President Mattarella and the Government awarded the Olympic Order
- FROM THE IOC
The Italian people have received the IOC Olympic Cup for the contribution made to the success of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The prestigious award was presented today at the Quirinale Palace by International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who received it on behalf of the entire country. Mattarella arranged for the Olympic Cup to be entrusted to the custody of CONI, represented on the occasion by President Luciano Buonfiglio and General Secretary Carlo Mornati, who were present alongside the President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee and IOC Member Giovanni Malagò and Chief Executive Officer Andrea Varnier. The Olympic Cup recognises the passion, expertise, generosity and hospitality shown by Italy and the host territories during the Games (photo: Presidency of the Republic).
During the ceremony, the Head of State was also awarded the Olympic Order for the support he gave to the Games and for his presence at the most significant moments of the event, from the Opening Ceremony at San Siro to the competition days in which he cheered on the athletes of the Italia Team. The day at the Quirinale followed yesterday’s meetings at Palazzo Chigi, where President Coventry had awarded the Olympic Order to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a number of representatives of the Italian Government, in recognition of the contribution made to the staging of Milano Cortina 2026. The Olympic Order was also awarded to Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport; Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth; Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance; Fabio Massimo Saldini, Government Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026; and Giuseppe Fasiol, Extraordinary Commissioner for the organisation and staging of the Paralympic Games.
Agli italiani la Coppa Olimpica per aver Milano Cortina 2026. Collare Olimpico a Mattarella, Meloni, Salvini, Giorgetti e Abodi
Cocciaretto receives the Collare d’Oro from Buonfiglio and Mornati: “I will carry the emotions of these weeks with me forever”
- CONI
Elisabetta Cocciaretto was welcomed for the first time to Palazzo H, CONI’s headquarters, by President Luciano Buonfiglio and General Secretary Carlo Mornati for the presentation of the Collare d’Oro for sporting merit.
The Italian tennis player was one of the key figures in the outstanding triumph at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup, a success that also saw her and her team-mates received by the President of the Republic at the Quirinale on Monday 4 May.
“These days in Rome have left me with so many emotions,” said the world No. 41, who was accompanied by her coach Fabio Scolari and FITP Federal Councillor Graziano Risi. “Going to the Quirinale, playing three evening matches at the Foro Italico and receiving the Collare d’Oro is incredible. And I had never been to CONI before. I will carry the emotions of these weeks with me forever. I am extremely happy and satisfied”.
“Being alongside athletes and being able to present them with an award that represents the highest honour in Italian sport gives us enormous gratification. Young people like Elisabetta are an example both on the court and in the way they conduct themselves” said CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio.
Buonfiglio and Mornati present Palma d’Oro for technical merit to Simone Tartarini, coach of Lorenzo Musetti
- CONI
CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and General Secretary Carlo Mornati this morning presented the Palma d’Oro for technical merit to Simone Tartarini, coach of Lorenzo Musetti.
The tennis player has been coached by the La Spezia-born trainer since he was eight years old: at the start of 2026, he climbed as high as fifth in the world rankings. Musetti was part of the Italian team that won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024 and, among other achievements, claimed Olympic bronze at the Paris 2024 Games.
Buonfiglio and Mornati congratulated Tartarini, wishing him every success in guiding Musetti towards new and prestigious competitive milestones.
Mattarella welcomes Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup champions: “Italian tennis a global force”
- AT THE QUIRINALE
Inside the Salone delle Feste at the Quirinale, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella received Italy’s women’s national tennis team, winners in 2025 of a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup, and the men’s national team, who last year triumphed for the third straight season in the Davis Cup.
The side captained by Tathiana Garbin and featuring Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Sara Errani, Lucia Bronzetti and Tyra Grant secured in September in Shenzhen (China) the sixth title in Italy’s history in the premier women’s team competition. Meanwhile, Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Sonego, Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli, led by captain Filippo Volandri, prevailed in Bologna in November to deliver Italy’s fourth Davis Cup title.
Present at the Quirinale (photo Mattia Martegani/CONI), alongside the athletes, captains and staff of both teams, were CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Sport e Salute President Marco Mezzaroma, Sport e Salute CEO Diego Nepi Molineris, Italian Tennis and Padel Federation President Angelo Binaghi, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, the federation’s leadership and the entire federal council.
“Mr President of the Republic, as always thank you for the attention and affection you show towards Italian sport,” said CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio. “Once again we stand before you to celebrate the successes and emotions of another winning sport that is filling Italian homes with passion and glory. I refer to tennis, which in recent years has become one of the leading disciplines in Italian sport. The men’s team, after nearly 50 years without success, has managed to win the Davis Cup – the world team championship – three times in a row. Likewise, the women’s team repeated its triumph a few months ago, backing up the previous year’s success. A men’s and women’s double, achieved in consecutive years, is nothing short of extraordinary. No European nation had ever managed it; only two Anglo-Saxon countries had done so: Australia in 1964 and 1965, and the United States twice between the late Seventies and early Eighties. In practical terms, it had not happened in the past half-century. That is the measure of the greatness of this double success we celebrate with you today. It is the second year in succession that Italian tennis has dominated the world in the two most prestigious team competitions. An unprecedented double that fills us with pride. These are outstanding athletes who honour the Azzurri shirt and are proud to defend the honour of our country. They are led by two non-playing captains of the highest calibre, Tathiana Garbin and Filippo Volandri, envied around the world. And the world also envies the protagonists who raised our beloved Tricolore on the podium and twice, in Bologna and Shenzhen, played the Italian national anthem. I think of Jasmine Paolini, Sara Errani, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti and Tyra Grant in the final in China, as well as Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Sonego, Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli in the Bologna final against Spain. But as you know well, and as I often repeat on these occasions, behind these young women and men there is an organisational system that works. Credit must go to the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, to its President Angelo Binaghi, to the federal council and to all those working within the structure for having, over the years, shaped the federation like a true company, with sporting, economic and financial results for all to see. Today the federation is a management model, an example not only nationally but also one that attracts attention and interest internationally. The Internazionali d’Italia in Rome are about to get under way, with enormous public anticipation. In the past you have honoured us with your presence. We know how busy your schedule is, but should you find the time, Italian sport would be delighted to welcome you to the enchanting setting of the Foro Italico. Thank you, Mr President, for this unforgettable morning. This is the Italy that wins, the Italy that conveys positive messages, the Italy that honours our flag. These are the sisters and brothers of Italy. Thank you again, Mr President – long live Italy, long live Italian sport”.
Angelo Binaghi then took the floor: “Being invited to the Quirinale to celebrate the triumphs of our girls and boys is the greatest possible satisfaction for us. It represents the pinnacle of our journey and makes us feel we have fully done our duty and represented our nation in the best possible way. Above all, thank you for waiting for us, for allowing these players to complete their respective schedules so they could prepare in the best way and be here together today. We took it as a gesture of great sensitivity towards us. We have won the last five world team championships – something extraordinary. And these last two victories were genuine feats, against the odds, as our ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi can testify. They were victories built by our two captains, Tathiana Garbin and Filippo Volandri, who succeeded in combining the charisma, class and experience of top players such as Jasmine Paolini and Matteo Berrettini with the exuberance and grit of our best emerging talents like Flavio Cobolli and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. These were such clear-cut victories that there was not even the need to field two of the strongest pairs in the world, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, and Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli, allowing us to rest reigning world champions such as Lorenzo Sonego and Lucia Bronzetti, along with our great prospect Tyra Grant. Today we look ahead: the Internazionali BNL d’Italia begin now. We still vividly remember Jasmine’s splendid victory last year, made even more significant by your presence, which allowed us to feel the affection and support of all Italians. This year we also dream of a men’s singles title, which has eluded us for 50 years. I have done my utmost over these 25 years but have not succeeded; you, Mr President, came once and achieved the impossible with Jasmine. I believe it is worth drawing the appropriate conclusions… We await you with open arms. I believe our movement must not stop here. We must share with the Government the opportunity that Italian tennis represents today for our country, in economic, social and reputational terms. We must persist, create the conditions for the growth of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, which are a national asset. We owe it to these boys and girls, to their families, to their teams, and to the 29 million Italians who follow their exploits with passion. We must capitalise on the value and opportunity created by their victories to leave our country an even greater tournament that will generate even more wealth for many years to come,” concluded the FITP President.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto then spoke: “It is an honour to nurture this dream every day and to represent Italy. Every time we wear the Azzurri shirt we are filled with pride. There is a strong sense of belonging, sharing and pride. Winning together under the Tricolore gives us national pride; with the team it is something special. We are Italian in every corner of the world and we want to be an example for all the girls who dream as we do. Mr President, your guidance is a reference point and this result is a small contribution to Italy.” She was echoed by Flavio Cobolli: “When we play the Davis Cup we are not alone – there is a team and an entire country behind us. That makes the difference. I thank my team-mates: we are a strong and united group, even when results do not come. The captain has guided us with humanity and openness, and the Federation has provided the tools to get us here. We will give everything to return here and celebrate ‘your’ Davis Cup again”.
In closing, Sergio Mattarella – who, before his speech, was presented by the players with scaled-down replicas of the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup – said: “The Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup victories represent an unimaginable result. It shows that the first success was not a one-off, but part of a process that has made Italian tennis a global force. We now look ahead to the Internazionali in Rome and to Roland Garros, and I expect to see them there thanks to your invitation. I would not wish to appear a talisman, as I am not at all, but the quality of our players – women and men – allows us to approach these tournaments with renewed and consolidated confidence. Being successful athletes and role models for fans carries responsibility, and you consistently set an example of seriousness, especially for the younger generations. This reflection allows me to recall Alex Zanardi, a person of great human depth, capable of inspiring young people. I believe I speak for everyone in saying that Zanardi is a figure who not only evokes affection and admiration but also a future of gratitude: these are the figures who illuminate our sport and give meaning to the importance of sport in society,” concluded the Head of State.
I campioni del mondo di tennis al Quirinale dal Presidente Mattarella
Page 7 of 145