Sports will be promoted among foreign children within the National Reception System

CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, and the State Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Domenico Manzione, in the presence of Interior Minister, Angelino Alfano, today signed the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Interior Ministry and the Italian Olympic Committee on ways to collaborate regarding the spread, the practice and implementation of sports activities supporting foreign children within the national reception system".

Present at the event, in the crowded Conference Hall of the Interior Ministry, in addition to the Head of the Department for Civil freedoms and Immigration, Prefect Mario Morcone, were several Interior Administration officials involved in the field of immigration and asylum.

The initiative was presented by the Managing Director for Immigration and Asylum policies, prefect Rosetta Scotto Lavina, which was followed by the speech from the President of CONI, Malagò, and that of the State Secretary, Manzione, who stressed the importance of the agreement, focused on sporting activity as a powerful integration tool for foreign children living in reception centres set up across the nation, as well as the invaluable practice for the training for all young people from a physical and psycho-behavioural point of view.

Before signing the Protocol, Minister Alfano offered strong support for the contents of this Understanding, which will be developed into a three-year action plan, launched earlier in some pilot regions, in the North, Centre and the South, then introduced nationwide.

The event was also attended by 20 foreign students from reception centres representing the diverse world that is the main recipient of the project shared by the Ministry of Interior and National Olympic Committee, which sees the value of sport as key to the integration of young immigrants.

“EduCare Sport”, champions look to the future

EduCare Sport has landed at the ‘Internazionali BNL d’Italia’ event: hosted at the Foro Italico in Rome, special leg of the tour of meetings that BNL Gruppo BNP Paribas, in partnership with CONI, it is dedicated to athletes reaching the end of their careers to accompany their professional and entrepreneurial projects and help them make economic and financial choices in a mindful and sustainable manner. In recent months, BNL and CONI have brought EduCare Sport in various Italian cities from Milan to Bologna, from Treviso to Formia: training workshops were held with athletes, former athletes and sports men and women, among which great champions who have won Olympic, World, European and National titles.

The event in Rome was held to take stock of this initiative, which has been particularly appreciated: in addition to the champions, in fact, EduCare Sport has involved mainly professional athletes, active and not, between the ages of 25 and 40, as well as athletes for which “retirement” is reached at an older age, as well as of sports in which the peak of professionalism is concentrated in adolescence. Great attention was shown also by the managements of the sports clubs and teams, now 40 and 50-year-old former athletes who have personally experienced the difficulties in choosing their post-career paths.

EduCare Sport is inserted within the BNL-CONI partnership, which includes the development of activities and projects aimed at supporting sports at various levels, at supporting entrepreneurial ideas and further spreading the sports culture, that contributes not only to the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals but, through this, also the development of a more mindful and caring society .

BNL and CONI have been collaborating for more than 70 years, during which they have shared epochal events such: the Rome Olympics in 1960, “Italia ‘90” Football World Championship; Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998; the “BNL Cerchi e Stelle” project, that led to the qualification of five Italian athletes (Erica Alfridi, Deborah Gelisio, Josefa Idem, Ylenia Scapin e Alessandra Sensini) in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Lastly, BNL is the partner of 44 Sports Federations and the Bank of the Italian Paralympics Committee and of the main Federation associated to it.

Guests of honour were Alessandra Sensini, Andrea Lucchetta and Flavia Pennetta, who spoke of their experience as champions and of their future projects.

Snoopy joins the Italia Team

A new travel companion joins the Italia Team. A very special athlete: it is Snoopy wearing the Italian jersey. The idea stemmed from the will to create a new and innovative licensing activity, linking the CONI brand with the image of a transversal testimonial with values rooted in the territory and coherent with the principal values of Sports at all levels, thus amplifying positive messages, and at the same time serving as a useful communication tool. A logic that aims to extend the research and use of sponsorships beyond the Olympic year, becoming a standard feature in fundraising of the new model of management of Italian Sports, with further positive effects on the system and to the benefit of all stakeholders.

With a co-branding agreement, unique in its kind, CONI will develop and implement a co-branding project that has Snoopy involved in all the Olympic disciplines in the role of Italia Team athlete. The program will cover various product areas: from the world of games, with soft toys and educational games on the subject of sports, to the world of clothing, accessories and services, creating an important flux of royalties.

This innovation in the licensing world was presented at the VIP Gallery of the Centrale del Tennis by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, by the Deputy Secretary and Head of Olympic Preparation Carlo Mornati, by Marketing Director Diego Nepi, by Senior Director of Peanuts Tara Botwick, in the presence of Project Advisor Maurizio Occhipinti.

The event was attended also by various testimonials of Italian sports such as the women’s beach volley couple Menegatti and Orsi-Toth, world champion sailors Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich, Olympic champions Carlo Molfetta and Antonio Rossi, former basketball player Carlton Myers and race walker Marco De Luca.

Casa Italia in Rio will be "Horizontal". Project to enhance the Country’s features of excellence at the Games is presented

A meeting was held between Italy’s examples of excellence to enhance the Made in Italy in Brazil. Where sport meets art, tradition and innovation. All this in in one place: Casa Italia, which, at the 2016 Rio Games, in the Costa Brava Club, will for the first time present itself as the result of a project that aims to promote the country not only through the highest competitive expression, but also through art and design. A project that flies high, based on the 'Horizontal' concept. A viral concept that will go beyond the physical boundaries of the location through the CIAOLA', an expression combining the Italian 'ciao' with the Portuguese 'olà', meaning hello and welcome, that merges the two realities.

Casa Italia will open an ideal horizon towards the world. The presentation was given today at the Corporate Hospitality of the Centrale del Tennis within the Foro Italico, in the presence of CONI’s Deputy Secretary, Head of Olympic Preparation and Head of Mission in Rio, Carlo Mornati, Marketing Director, Diego Nepi, and the curator of the 'Horizontal' project, Beatrice Bertini.

Mornati explained the significance and importance of Casa Italia in cultural terms. "The Olympic Games wouldn’t exist without art, because the IOC eliminated artistic competitions in the Olympics in 1948 but it established that there should always be an artistic program for every participating Country. In Casa Italia therefore there will be a sort of melting pot, the message of a united, beautiful Italy offering itself to the world with its own Olympic values and, for once, without indulging in self-pity".

Diego Nepi has amplified the concept, going into detail. "This is a project that stems from a new vision of the Renaissance. We conceived a project that is totally different with respect to the past, a path to communicate the greatness of our Country, not just for its past but above all for its vision of the future".

The project is articulated in the artistic sector by Beatrice Bertini and Benedetta Acciari, in the interior design sector, through the endeavours of Claudia Pignatale, while Marco Frascarolo and Roberto Ortolani have mastered the lighting and the landscaping aspects respectively. Francesco de Figueiredo instead has worked on the identity of Casa Italia, Roberto Sinastra on rendering and Diego Chiaverelli on the CIAOLA' concept (foto Mezzelani-GMT).

'Horizontal' considers art all that will take place in Casa Italia 2016, which will be inaugurated on August 3 in the presence of Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi. Without hierarchies: the sports, the works, the interior design, the kitchen and the reception, will contribute to make a visit to the Costa Brava a unique experience, thanks to its modern, unique and welcoming environment.

Statement by CONI Servizi Assembly and Board of Directors

The meeting of the Assembly of Coni Servizi S.p.A. was held this afternoon at the Foro Italico. In the course of the meeting the members of the Board of Directors were nominated for the 2016-2018 period which is thus composed: Franco Chimenti, President, Alberto Miglietta, Annarita Balzani, Giovanna Boda and Francesco Parlato, Directors.

Particular acknowledgment was given to Board Member Vincenzo Iaconianni for his support in the course of his recently concluded mandate.

In the subsequent meeting of the newly nominated Board, delegations and powers were conferred to the President, Franco Chimenti and to Alberto Miglietta, who was reconfirmed in the role of CEO.

The Assembly also approved the 2015 financial statements.

The result before tax of 16.7 mln € - improved compared to the previous year – positively affects the continued control and optimization of costs as well as the adjustment of the financial activities deriving from the accounting re-alignment of the value of the Company’s shares in the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo. The net profit of 14 mln €, also improved compared to that of the previous year, enabled the distribution to the shareholding Ministry of the Economy of a dividend of 2.2 mln € in virtue of the reduction in expenditure resulting from the implementation of the current provisions of law (Leg. Decr. 66/2014 and 78/2010). Moreover, In terms of respect of the regulations, Coni Servizi has continued to re-align the terms of payment of debts towards suppliers provided for by the regulations, reaching an average of about 36 days.

The economic result for the year showed an improvement compared to both the 2015 budget forecast and, in particular, compared to the previous year. The proceeds – which at the beginning of the Company’s activities in 2003 amounted to 4.4 mln € - have increased to 31.3 mln €, an increase of about 4 mln € with respect to the previous year, in virtue of a further development in the evaluation of the company’s assets, in addition to increased planning implemented in the course of the year as requested by CONI and not included in the annual service contract with the latter.

As proof of the growing efficiency of Coni Servizi in providing support to the Italian sports system, the proceeds deriving from the contract with Ente CONI – substantially in line with 2014 – have continued the trend that from 2003, first year of the Company’s operation, to today, has enabled to progressively reduce the amount due from 179 mln € to 102.1 mln €, thus saving 76.9 mln € (-43%).

At the end of the accounting period, Coni Servizi’s debts towards banks were equal to 94.7mln €, substantially in line with the previous year. Of these, 56.5 mln € represent the remaining portion of debt originally inherited from the Ente CONI administration (equal to 400.9mln € at 31.12.2003).

Finally, substantial investments have been made in the course of the accounting period on the available instrumental assets amounting to more than 5 mln €.

"Passion on the move", Coca Cola partnership presented

This morning, at the Circolo del Tennis of the Foro Italico of Rome, CONI President Giovanni Malagò and Evguenia Stoitchkova, General Manager of Coca-Cola Italia, presented the partnership that will bind CONI and Coca-Cola for the year 2016, in support of the Italia Team – the Olympic national team representing Italy in Rio 2016.

The presentation was attended also by Secretary-General Roberto Fabbricini, Deputy Secretary and Head of Olympic Preparation, Carlo Mornati, CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta and FIT Chairman Angelo Binaghi, in addition to Nicola Pietrangeli, Lea Pericoli and a delegation of athletes of the Italia Team such as Carlotta Ferlito, Luca Dotto, Carlo Molfetta, Elisa Santoni, Marco De Luca, Mara Santangelo.

An extremely important agreement to activate synergies with a corporation that has always been involved in projects supporting sports and outdoor life, in tune with the values that CONI promotes. Coca-Cola, already a sponsor of the IOC at global level, has decided to become actively involved with CONI, establishing a strong bond with Italy in social, economic and cultural terms, through a business model that is strongly connected to the local reality. It was therefore almost a natural consequence that Coca-Cola would support the Italian National Olympic Committee in a very important year for sports in our country. “Last year we put our stakes on Italy becoming a Partner of Expo Milano 2015 and hosting 400.000 visitors in our Pavilion. This year we want to continue to testify the closeness of the corporation to this Country, where we have been operating for almost 90 years with 5 production plants and more than 2,000 employees, associating our brand with the emblem of Italian sport and supporting Italian athletes representing our Country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games” said Evguenia Stoitchkova, General Manager of Coca-Cola Italia. 

For the occasion, CONI and Coca-Cola have created a coordinated image, characterised by the “Passion on the Move” claim and enriched by graphic elements based on the Italian colours, which will accompany all events and initiatives organized by CONI and Coca-Cola in the course of the year. A 330ml Limited Edition (not for sale) Coca-Cola bottle will celebrate the partnership.

Malagò hands Ranieri the Palma d'Oro for Coaching Achievements

Today, CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, together with Secretary-General, Roberto Fabbricini, handed the Palma d'Oro for Coaching Achievements to Claudio Ranieri. The award ceremony took place in the Salone d'Onore, in the course of the “Bearzot Award” ceremony organized by US Acl. The highest honour awarded to sports coaches was assigned to the Roman coach for his achievements with the Leicester team, which he led to the historic victory in Premier League, the top football league. Since 2004, the year in which CONI instituted the award, there has been only one other football coach, Marcello Lippi, who received the Palma d'Oro when he won the 2006. World Championships in Germany.

Statement by the National Council

Meeting no. 244 of the CONI National Council convened this morning at 11:00am – at the Foro Italico – to discuss the following agenda:

1) Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 26 February 2016: The minutes were approved unanimously.

2) Communications by President: Malagò opened the discussions by commemorating the protagonists of the sporting world who have departed in the past two months stressing the importance of the results obtained by the Italian athletes in the same period. The President then congratulated Francesco Ricci Bicci for his confirmation at the head of ASOIF, and commended Flavio Roda, President of FISI, for the extraordinary results achieved throughout the season (4 World Cups in 4 disciplines). Best wishes were instead expressed to Sergio Mignardi, President of the Hockey Federation, for a quick recovery after he was injured in a road accident. The investiture of the standard-bearer was subsequently celebrated: there was major agreement over the choice of Federica Pellegrini, nominated the day after the retirement from competitive sports activities of Valentina Vezzali, last Italian standard-bearer in the Summer Olympics. On June 22, the ceremony of the presentation of the flag will be held at the Quirinale Palace with Federica Pellegrini and Martina Caironi.

The President stressed the good relations shared with the Government, which is currently working on the distribution of TV rights and on the complex issues regarding the law on professionalism of 1981. It is necessary to consider, in fact, that the female athletes are demanding a formal recognition of juridical nature. Regarding 2024, we proceed with common intentions: the 4 days spent in Lausanne with Montezemolo and the Committee’s staff, during the SportAccord elections, have served to bring forward an excellent relational work. In the coming days, moreover, a series of consultations will take place with all the mayoral candidates to talk about issues concerning said candidacy. The question of sports events in Italy was then broached: a letter by the IOC has been received urging not to organize further events in our Country before September 2017, with the exception of those already scheduled or foreseen, to avoid conditioning the candidacy.

After discussing the “Sport e Periferie” project, with the purposely instituted Committee that is completing the assessment of around 2000 applications received, the delicate issue of doping was tackled, in reference to the positive testing of Niccolò Mornati, a circumstance that has hurt the President’s feelings and made him reflect. For this reason, it was announced that, at the end of his mandate, Malagò will not stand for re-election at the head of the Aniene, to avoid any kind of interpretation of the role. It was also pointed out that – at the Board meeting – Carlo Mornati handed in his delegations relative to his role as Deputy Secretary General and Olympic Training Manager, including that of Head of Mission in Rio. The Board unanimously rejected such hypothesis, reasserting full support to Mornati and expressing appreciation for his accomplishments. The President also stated how this occurrence confirms the effectiveness of the activities conducted by the anti-doping body.

Malagò reported the nominations of the new BoD of Coni Servizi for the 2016-2018 period which is thus composed: Franco Chimenti, President, Alberto Miglietta, Francesco Parlato, Giovanna Boda and Annarita Balzani, Directors. The proposal will be brought to the attention of the Assembly to be convened on May 11.

Manco and Binaghi were also thanked for endorsing the agreement concerning the UISP-FIT controversy. Lastly, the 2016 CONI trophy will be held in Sardinia with the participation of 5 thousand children. It was announced that an extraordinary meeting of the National Council for the reformulation of the 2016 budget, also with reference to Antidoping, will be held on May 24. Input to the President’s report was delivered by: Franco Carraro (IOC member), Giovanni Petrucci (Basketball), Riccardo Agabio (Gymnastics), Raffaello Leonardo, Sabatino Aracu (Hockey and Skating), Ugo Salines (Representative of Sports Promotion Bodies), Vincenzo Manco (Sports Promotion Bodies), Angelo Binaghi (Tennis), Riccardo Viola (Representative of Peripheral Bodies), Vincenzo Medugno (Representative of Coaches), Sandro Rossi (Representative of Associated Disciplines), Angelo Sticchi Damiani (ACI), Alberto De Nigro (Auditor), Antonio Rossi (Representative of Athletes), Alberto Miglietta (Badminton).

2b) CONI Statute - Art. 2; Par. 4 – Homophobia: Unanimously approved

3) F.S.N.- D.S.A. - E.P.S. activities: the Council unanimously approved the deliberations concerning: regulations for special procedures in pursuance of art. 54 of the Code of Sporting Justice, UEFA Licences arbitration body regulations, extension of the role of Special Commissioner of the Italian Twirling Federation, maximum annual limit in number of non-EU athletes from 1185 to 1160, regulations of the Meritorious Associations. 

4) Administrative affairs and CONI balance: CONI 2015 annual financial statements were unanimously approved. There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 12:55.

Statement by the National Board

Meeting no. 1046^th of the CONI National Board was held this morning at the Foro Italico. It began with an update on Rome’s candidacy to the 2024 Olympic Games and that of Cortina d’Ampezzo to the 2021 Alpine Skiing World Championships.

The Board then unanimously approved the nomination of the Board of Directors of CONI Servizi for the 2016-2018 period, which is thus composed: Franco Chimenti, President, Alberto Miglietta, Francesco Parlato, Giovanna Boda and Annarita Balzani, Directors. The proposal will be brought to the attention of the Assembly to be convened on May 11.

Deputy Secretary Carlo Mornati, following the incident in which his brother Nicolò was found positive at an anti-doping test, handed in his delegations and assignments to the Board. After an extensive and in-depth discussion in which each Board member took the floor, the Board unanimously rejected Mornati’s resignations, confirming all his assignments. After examining a long series of other issues of organizational and administrative nature, and having passed the relative resolutions, the Board closed the meeting at 11:10 am.

Statement from the National Committee

This morning the 1045th meeting of the CONI National Committee was held at the Foro Italico, where proceedings began to approve the minutes of the meeting concerning the previous meeting on 26th February. In its statements, President Malagò wanted to share with the Committee the decision to choose Federica Pellegrini as Italy's flag-bearer at the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The Committee unanimously supported the choice. The President then announced the wish to submit for approval at the next National Council on 4th May the amendment to art.2 paragraph 4 of the Statute to include homophobia as one of the issues to tackle throughout sport. Focus than shifted on congratulating Francesco Ricci Bitti for his re-election as President of ASOIF.

The Committee was then updated on the developments of the relations between Federbasket and the International Federation concerning the participation of the Italian teams at the European cups. Malagò also informed the Committee that the IOC will not authorise new international events until September 2017 in compliance with the Code of Ethics for candidate cities for the 2024 Games.

The compulsory administration of the Italian Twirling Federation has been deferred with elections to be held on 22nd July. The CONI Trophy 2016 was launched which will be held in Sardinia from the 22nd to 25th September. A decision was made to propose to the National Council the entry limit of non-EU sportspersons 2016-2017 seasons to be set at 1,160 individuals, 25 less than last year. Finally, the Committee also approved CONI's 2015 financial statements. The resolution will be submitted for approval at the next National Council on 4th May. After reviewing a long list of other organisational and administrative issues, and having taken the relevant resolutions, the Committee called an end to proceedings at 11.45am. At that moment, Federica Pellegrini made her way into the Committee Room applauded by all the members of the Committee and thanked CONI for the honour bestowed upon her. Immediately after the meeting, Malagò, Pellegrini and the entire Committee went up to CONI's Salone d'Onore for the press conference to make the official announcement.