National Council press release

CONI's National Council No. 243 met this afternoon, at 3:00 pm, at the Foro Italico, to discuss the following agenda:

1) Approval of the minutes of the 17 December 2015 meeting: the minutes were approved unanimously.

2) News from the President: Malagò opened the proceedings by commemorating the members of the sporting world that were deceased over the last two months and, at the same time, the important results obtained by Italian athletes over the same period.  It was also highlighted that this year the unforgotten Ondina Valla will be celebrated as the first Italian female athlete to win a golden medal at the Games, 80 years from her victory in Berlin 1936 and 10 years from her departure.

The Italian national team delegation, lead by Anna Riccardi, was then complimented for the positive outcome of the YOGs at Lillehammer, acknowledging also the contribution of board member Giampiero Pastore; the importance of the presentation revealing the projects developed by CONI's different organisational units ahead of Rio 2016 was also reiterated, with particular emphasis placed on the choice of Casa Italia. Some advance planning was made by setting the launch for the 3rd August, strategic date on the margin of important appointments, to ensure the presence of IOC members before the opening ceremony.  The second event mentioned by the Present was the presentation of the Rome 2024 dossier, at Palazzo dei Congressi, the iconic location for the 1960 Games. Malagò called it a great success and thanked the Board for the unity demonstrated by all members in pushing the candidature in this initial phase. It was also explained that winning the candidature for the Games could help the Federations that have difficulty in qualifying their teams to building, over seven years, competitive teams ahead of the games.

The Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will be present on 5 August in Rio for the Launch of the XXXI edition of the five-circle event, while the President of the Republic, Mattarella, has been invited to the Ceremony of the Paralympics.

Malagò, in talking about CONI's relationship with the Government, recalled the project "Sport and Suburbs" (Sport e Periferie). Out of the 1,672 requests that were submitted, 75% are for facilities already in existence, 25% for new facilities. It was emphasised that two basic criteria have been set: priority for what is already in existence and state interventions for state-owned facilities.

General themes were then discussed, reminding attendees that compulsory use of defibrillators has been postponed to 30 June, and also providing updates on issues regarding the Job Acts and the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT).  Furthermore, 9 March will see the presentation, together with Minister Poletti, of a plan for the employment of athletes at the end of their competitive career. A key convention also from the point of view of the policy espoused by IOC, which states the centrality of athletes.  CONI also scheduled a set of regulations to cover mother-athletes and athletes in maternity leave ahead of Rio 2016. Malagò, proud of the 2.7% increase in sport participation in 2014 and 2015, on the basis of the study carried out by the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT), expressed his wish for a resolution of all litigations between Federations, Sporting Disciplines and Promotion Agencies.

The message of the President saw contributions from: Marco Durante (Athletes Representative), Angelo Binaghi (Tennis), Giovanni Petrucci (Basketball), Vincenzo Manco (Agencies for the Promotion of Sport), Franco Carraro (IOC member), Riccardo Agabio (Gymnastics), Gianni Medugno (Associated Sporting Disciplines), Luciano Rossi (Skeet shooting), Vittorio Orlandi (Equestrianism), Maurizio Casasco, Romolo Rizzoli (Bowls), Ugo Claudio Matteoli (Competitive Fishing and Underwater Activities), Sandro Rossi (Associated Sporting Disciplines representative), Francesco Purromuto (Handball), Ugo Salines (Agencies for the Promotion of Sport representative), Diana Bianchedi (General Coordinator for Rome 2024).

3) F.S.N.-D.S.A.-E.P.S Activity: Unanimous approval was reached regarding: the Regulation of Meritorious Associations and the ratification of the appointment of Antonello De Tullio as Extraordinary Administrator of the Italian Bowling Sport Federation, with Alvio La Face as Deputy Administrator. The Board expressed its complete agreement also in relation to the formal procedures that the Rome 2024 candidature process is following. With no other matters arising, the proceedings were closed at 5:05 pm.

Press Release of the National Board

This morning at the Foro Italico, meeting no. 1043 of CONI's National Board took place, and it started by approving the minutes of the previous meeting of 26 January. In his communications, President Malagò complimented the Italian team for its good performance at the YOGs of Lillehammer, gaining nine medals, an improvement compared to the previous edition of Innsbruck 2012.  The Board approved the reform plan for Meritorious Associations, for a more effective streamlining of facilities, instrumental also in making funds available for projects. The topic "Sport and Suburbs" was then discussed, which saw the appointment of Danilo Del Gaizo, Vincenzo Nunziata and Carlo Deodato to the dedicated committee. Malagò explained that 1,672 project requests were received, 45% coming from the eight regions of Southern Italy. 50% of projects are below 500,000 Euros and 57% concern multi-purpose facilities.

Furthermore, 75% refer to facilities that need to be refurbished or completed, while 25% refer to facilities that have not yet been built, a confirmation that a wealth of facilities is already in existence, but that these need to be improved or maintained. An agreement with the Ministry of Work was then illustrated to the Board, with the purpose of finding employment for athletes at the end of their competitive career. The contents will be presented during a press conference on Wednesday 9 March at 12:30 pm in the Aula Magna of the Acqua Acetosa sport centre, which will be attended by President Malagò and Minister Poletti.   The board was then updated on the candidature dossier for Rome 2024.  The 2016 CONI trophy was then approved. The new meeting of the Board will take place in the prestigious Villa Niscemi branch in Palermo on 22 March, while at the following meeting of 27 April, the standard-bearer for Italy at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be officially appointed.  Malagò also asked Pancalli to announce publicly the name of the standard-bearer for the Paralympics by the same date. After having examined a long series of other organisational and administrative issues, and having formulated the necessary resolutions, the Board ended the meeting at 11:40 am.

Malagò presents the candidature project at Bocconi University: Sport in Italy is the best investment

"Sport in Italy is the best investment; it is a peak of excellence". CONI president Giovanni Malagò, in occasion of the convention "Rome 2024, planning for sustainability and legacies", which took place at "Luigi Bocconi" Commercial University in Milan, reiterated the importance of the Capital's candidature to host the Olympic Games in 2024, also from the economic point of view, in terms of legacy for the country.

A strong candidature presented today at the event promoted by Bocconi Sport Campus, and enriched by the prestige that is associated with the Italian Olympic Committee abroad. "A recent research ascertained that CONI is the most prestigious Olympic committee in the world - highlighted the President talking to the attendees at the University's Aula Magna -. This is thanks to its history and of the medals gained by our athletes. The uniqueness of Italy is that we do not have a Ministry of Sport: in our country, CONI is the institution that represents sport and this is a responsibility because it is our duty to promote the movement and its values. My colleagues see us as a model both from a management perspective and because of the enormous number of athletes, 11 million, and of clubs that affiliate to the various federations".

The presentation of the candidature project saw the intervention, amongst others, of the head of relationships with athletes on behalf of the Committee for the Promotion of Rome 2024, Fiona May, swimming champion Massimiliano Rosolino and race walking champion Eleonora Giorgi.

Malagò, on the margin of the convention, then made some clarifications regarding the venue, which, were the Olympic Games to be assigned to Rome, could host the final of the final game for the Olympic football tournament. "If Roma's new stadium is going to be built, it could host the final, otherwise we would opt for other solutions - he explained -. All dossiers, both our one and the one of our competitors, plan for something that has not been built. We have been clear, honest and transparent regarding Roma's stadium: were it to be complete, Rome could host the final of the Olympic football tournament, given the fact that at that time there will also be the Ceremony for the closing of the Olympics. One can easily do everything at the Olympic Stadium, which has been done at different Olympic competitions - he added -, but if it were not complete, at that point we will evaluate the location of the final, which could take place in Rome or in Milan or Naples, which currently are the two designated cities for hosting the semi-finals, but it is a decision that has yet to be made".

Composition of Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games 2024. Fredericks was named President

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today announced the composition of the the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. IOC Members Frank Fredericks (photo IOC) was named Chair of the Commission.

Frank Fredericks, Olympic medallist and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, was previously a member of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad and the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

President Bach said: “Olympic Agenda 2020, with regard to the organisation of the Olympic Games, puts a special focus on sustainability and the athletes’ experience. This is where Frank Fredericks, as a four-time Olympic silver medallist in sprint and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, has great expertise”.

The Candidate Cities for the Olympic Games 2024 are Los Angeles (USA), Rome (Italy), Budapest (Hungary) and Paris (France).

The bob Ferrari tester of Pyeongchang track

The bobsled made by Ferrari for the Italian national team has been selected to help test out the new Olympic run at Pyeongchang, which will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2018. The bobsled was delivered this morning to driver Patrick Baumgartner who’ll be putting it through its paces at the Alpensia Sliding Centre in Korea between February 29 and March 9. He will be joined by brakemen Marco Rosa, Rocco Caruso and Alessandro Fierro, as well as by sporting director Roberto D’Amico.

The international federation specifically requested Fisi (the Italian Winter Sports Federation) to provide one of its teams and Baumgartner, who has just turned 21, was selected as driver. He has showed incredible prowess with the Ferrari-built bobsled, winning the gold medal at the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympic Games. The Italian team will be joined by athletes from Latvia and Russia.

Coni (the Italian Olympic Committee), Fisi and Ferrari have been collaborating for many years in various different sports and the Italian national team’s bobsled has been made in Maranello since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Development work on the version for Pyeongchang has only just begun, however. After the tests on the Olympic run, it will return to Ferrari where it will be further honed over the next 12 months. The sled will make its competition debut in the first event of the 2017/18 season, the high point of which will be the Korean Olympics, of course.

The Committee submitted the first part of its Candidature File to the IOC

Candidature File from Rome to host the 2024 Olympic Games was delivered yesterday to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In this part of Candidature Process, the Rome 2024 Committee has explained the vision and the games concept, the legacy, the general infrastructure and capacity analysis, the financing analysis (download here).

Presentation of the Olympic bid application. "This will be the biggest celebration of sports”

A journey through time, and through the beauty of its millennia, brings us to the indelible images of the 1960 Olympic Games.  With a show that is warmly enshrined in our memories, and brings our dream of those five circles even closer, the Rome 2024 Organizing Committee revealed the details of the Italian capital's candidature for hosting the Olympics and the Paralympics.  This was presented to the International Olympic Committee at Lausanne only today.

Heading the 1,000-plus guests present at the Palazzo dei Congressi dell'Eur was the actor Sergio Castellitto who, in his speech, stressed Rome’s uniqueness with "a city that has been reborn a thousand times, but still remains itself."  Firstly however, the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) read the welcoming message (click here for complete text) that the President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, had addressed to him and to the president of the organising committee, Luca Montezemolo: "Just as the 1960 Olympics signalled an important step in the economic and social development of Italy - writes the head of state - my hope is that the 2024 Olympics will become the crossroads of new growth, marked by quality and sustainability."

This was a message that the file was intended to convey in the best way possible.  The candidacy of "Rome, a city of hospitality", was based on four pillars: maximum transparency, a "low cost" approach, sharing and participation, and an improvement for the city (click here for full prospectus).  Montezemolo was to illustrate the vision of the candidature, also announcing the costs of the Olympic project.  The budget is to start at 2.1 billion euros, required to build or permanently modernize the permanent sites located in the city of Rome (70% of this is already available): the Olympic Village, the Cycling Arena and le Vele at Tor Vergata, the IBC and Main Press Centre at Saxa Rubra, the nature reserve at the Nuova Fiera de Roma, the Stadio Flaminio (download slides of Montezemolo’s presentation here).

The Chairman of the Committee explained that “The budget for the temporary sites will be 3.2 billion euros, and will include the organizational and managing costs.  However, to this amount we must add revenue.  In the case we win the competition for the Olympic bid, we would have a billion euros from the IOC.  Considering the revenue from expected grants, sponsorship, tickets and licensing, we are aiming to equalize the cost of the temporary sites."  In figures, according to a study by the University of Rome Tor Vergata (available here), conducted by Professor Beniamino Quintieri, the economic impact of the Games will produce a GDP growth of +0.4%, the creation of 177 thousand jobs, and an economic benefit of 2.9 billion euro.

In the auditorium were the representatives of the Government, the heads of the civil and military authorities, the federal presidents, and the all-time Italian national sports champions.  On the stage you could just breathe in the magical air that linked, inextricably, the past, present and future.  Here the Olympic fencing champion and general co-ordinator of Rome 2024, Diana Bianchedi, "challenged" her daughter Giulia  with the foil, and Fiona May, an athletics champion also in charge of athletes’ relations, was presented together with her daughter Larissa.  Then came the Rome 1960 Gold medal winner (for boxing), Nino Benvenuti, and the winner of Athens 2004 (for the marathon), Stefano Baldini.  “We want to create the biggest celebration of sports ever organised”, added Montezemolo, “we want to remove any element that does not place sport at the centre of the project: sport, ethics, competition, passion.  Sport is the greatest tool for uniting the world.”

The Vice President of the Italian Paralympics Organising Committee, Luca Pancalli (See slides), recollected that Rome 1960 was “also the home of the first Paralympics”.  With regards to the file for candidacy, he made an assurance that "We have set ourselves some fixed objectives”.  Among these, think about a sustainable transport connecting all the sites, so that even after the games this can be enjoyed by the whole community.  Secondly is the regeneration of, in particular, the peripheral areas.   The third objective sees the recovery of the existing sites, and the building of temporary sites to avoid the so called “cathedrals in the desert”.

On the other hand it was Malagò and Bianchedi who described the venues and the cluster that would host the various disciplines.  In the words of the President (click here to see the slides of the speech) "In addition to Rome there are 10 cities involved with the football tournaments.   The choices made for the games, and the choice of Cagliari for sailing, will involve the whole of Italy as these cities are connected to each other by plane or high speed train.  A strong feature of Cagliari is that it is next to a large oasis.  The environmental component is central to the candidature of Rome, and of the country as a whole.   I thank you, just stay close and help us to do these things with passion.”

The music from the Oscar winning Ennio Morricone will be the soundtrack of the Olympic dream of Rome on the occasion of the IOC in September 2017. "I am that will accompany the presentation in Lima for the final challenge." The show at Palazzo dei Congressi was brought to a close by the images of another Oscar prize winner, film director Paolo Sorrentino, taken from the film “The Great Beauty”, together with the performances of soprano Olivia Salvadori and of Castellitto: Rome demonstrated to have all the credentials to aim for victory, both through the arts and through sport.

Mattarella to Malagò and Montezemolo: “Olympics are Italy’s crossroads, as in 1960”

The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, sent a greeting to the President of CONI Giovanni Malagò and to the President of the Committee for the Promotion of Rome 2024 in occasion of the ceremony for the submission of the dossier for the Olympic and Paralympic Games candidature.

Download the text.

Wada recognises NADO Italy: Gallitelli signs the world code

NADO Italy signs WADA's Anti-doping World Code. The document, which constitutes the act on which the World Program of the Agency, was signed Friday 12 February - in compliance with the request advanced by the International Body itself - by the head of NADO Italy, General Leonardo Gallitelli. It is an implicit and authoritative international recognition for the work undertaken by NADO Italy, consituted on 15 September 2015.

Lillehammer 2016, a “fabulous” ceremony. Italian Sensation with Schwarz

A fable on stage, history as the backdrop. "The boy who wanted the world" is the title of the evocative short story screened at the ysgardsbakken Ski Jumping Arena, one of the iconic venues that in 1994 allowed Lillehammer to write an unforgettable Olympic chapter, thanks to the XVII edition of the Winter Olympic Games. It is the thread chosen to celebrate another opening ceremony: 22 years after the flame is lit for the second act of the YOGs. Italy parades behind the beardless features of Felix Schwarz, nevertheless already (youth) world champion (in the photo Augusto Bizzi), luger and standard-bearer for the 37 Italian athletes, guided by Anna Riccardi, Head of the mission, escorted by ex luger Sandra Gasparini (Young Ambassador) and cheered by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and by the Vice Secretary General and Head of Olympic Preparations Carlo Mornati.

The amazing sight of the Norwegian cold is triggered together with the spark that lights the world, and travels lighting up the path of a boy who tried to fulfil a fantastic dream: to become a great skier, the best in the world, cultivating his talent selflessly and with spirit of sacrifice. But the competition disheartens him, does not allow him to fulfil his resolution, making him progressively lose his "sacred" fire, distancing him from the objective, until when in the stadium a legendary figure appears - taking the semblance of the champion Marit Bjorgen - with Olympic flame, which reignites the hope, kindling the sleeping passion. The torch is passed to Her Royal Highness, Ingrid Alexandra, Olympic torch bearer after the winner of the cross-country ski Olympic Games, repeating the rite of 1994, when it was her father, His Royal Highness, Haakon Magnus, to sanction the beginning of the Games. It is the fire of the five circles that pierces the darkness of the Norwegian night, gifting us with a life lesson: the metaphor of daily life, the authentic sense of sport, passion, courage and resolve are the key elements to reach the most ambitious finishing lines.

There were many protagonists in the event: King Harald and Queen Sonja, Prince Haakon, Princess Mette Marit, the apex of Norwegian royalty. The athletes’ parade, all strictly in group with no separation along national lines, preceded by the appearance of the Kringsja Twirling team (European youth champions in October), was saluted by the words of the President of the Committee for the Organisation of the Lillehammer 2016, Siri Hatlen, and by the speech of Thomas Bach, President of IOC, which preceded the opening of the Games, proclaimed by King Harald. Six champions successively handed over to the same number of Norwegian gifted sportsmen the Olympic banner, to symbolically seal the promise: Eric Alard (Bob), Yun Kim (Figure skating), Stine Lise Hattestad (Freestyle), Bjorn Daehlie, Anita Moen Bonden (Cross-Country Skiing) and Espen Bredesen (Jump) ideally handed over to the young recruits the responsibility to honour the values that animate the Olympic path. At the end many smiles and fireworks: a pyrotechnic epilogue to launch the challenge into the future. Nine days of competitions, 1000 athletes, 70 Countries: now the five circles that unite the world under the banner of sport live in Lillehammer and are called YOG.