A challenge to transform the Capital into the Smart City of tomorrow
Rome’s bid will be the opportunity to transform the Capital into a Smart City, based on system technologies and innovation that meet the needs of every citizen. This is the objective of the collaboration that begins from today’s meeting between the Rome 2024 Committee, startuppers, enterprises and universities, organized with the support of the Lazio Region and Unindustria.
"Only with a great team effort we can bring out the potential of this city. The Olympic and Paralympic Games must be an opportunity for the entire population ", said President of the Rome 2024 bid Committee, Luca di Montezemolo, speaking at the Press Center of the Olympic Stadium. "Today more than ever we need this challenge to look forward, to get Rome and Italy involved , but also to generate economic development. Opposing the bid means surrendering and inhibiting improvement and growth. This is an opportunity not only to renovate or build new sports facilities, but also to invest in ideas. We need young people to launch important initiatives. We must support them and direct their efforts towards this huge challenge", continued Montezemolo.
"The contribution of the world of innovation is crucial for the Rome bid" said the Assessor for Economic Development of the Lazio Region Guido Fabiani. "Lazio is the third Italian region for the number of innovative start-ups, proving that we are engaged in a great deal of creative initiatives. I believe in young people and their ideas to help improve the city before the Games, "said Fabiani.
"The role of major events, like the Olympics and the Paralympics, is crucial and strategic for the growth and development of the area. Rome needs new challenges, new projects, new goals. The Games are a stimulus for the future of the city and its citizens, "said Giampaolo Letta, vice president of Unindustria.
"There are many young talents who went abroad with their ideas. This is an opportunity to bring the "brain drain" home, in our country, "said Fausto Bianchi, President of the group of young entrepreneurs of Unindustria in charge of start-ups and promotion of youth entrepreneurship. "On our side we will do anything we can to create the right environment for networking and sharing ideas. We must start laying the foundation for the future Smart City and share projects with the bid Committee”.
Monday Malagò and Pescante sign an agreement for Nanjing to host first World Roller Games in 2017
On Monday 1st February, the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and IOC member Mario Pescante, a Permanent Observer of the International Olympic Committee at the UN, along with the FIRS President Sabatino Aracu and the Deputy Mayor of Nanjing, HU Wanjin, will sign - at the Sala Giunta at CONI's headquarters at 10am - the official agreement for the Chinese city to host the first edition of the World Roller Games in 2017. The ceremony for the official recognition of "Nanjing - World Capital of Roller Sports" will be held during the event. Nanjing already hosted the second summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games in 2014.
In a change to what was decided last February in Rome at the FIRS Congress, Barcelona will not be the city to host the first edition of the World Roller Games: radical political and administrative changes took place following elections and the new administration of the Catalan city was unable to guarantee the best possible organisation of the 2017 event and asked to be released from its commitment. However, this did not put a stop to the great project of bringing together all of the various Roller Sports World Championships into one big event: the huge success of the last edition of the Youth Olympics and the widespread appeal and popularity of Roller Sports, as demonstrated at the SportsLab during the Olympic Games, show that the city of Nanjing is ready and enthusiastic to organise the first edition of the World Roller Games in 2017.
On Monday Malagò and Pescante at the signing of the agreement for Nanjing to host the first World Roller Games in 2017
On Monday 1st February, CONI President Giovanni Malagò, together with IOC member Mario Pescante, Permanent Observer of the Internation Olympic Committee at the UN, together with FIRS President Sabatino Aracu and Nanjing's Vice Mayor, HU Wanjin, will sign - in CONI’s Board Room at 10 am, the official agreement to assign to the Chinese city the first edition of the World Roller Games in 2017. In such occasion, the ceremony for the official recognition of "Nanjing - World Capital of Roller Sports" will also be celebrated. Nanjing has already the seat of the second summer edition of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
Contrarily to what decided last February in Rome during the FIRS Congress, Barcelona will therefore not be the seat of the first edition of the World Roller Games: following the elections that led to a radical change in the political and administrative management, the new administration of the Catalan city considered not to be able to guarantee the optimal organisation of the event for 2017 and asked to be able to withdraw from the commitments made. This nevertheless did not stop the great project to concentrate in a single great even the different World Tournaments for all disciplines on rollers: the city of Nanjing, on the back of the success of the previous edition of the Youth Olympics and of the enormous dissemination and popularity of Roller Sports, present as demo sport at the SportsLab during the Games, declared itself ready and enthusiast to organise the first edition of the World Roller Games of 2017.
Press Release of the National Board
This morning, in the headquarters of the Municipal Council of Cortina, meeting no.1041 of the CONI National Board took place, and it started with the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting of 17 December. In his opening communication, President Malagò explained the reasons for the meeting being held in Cortina, as exactly 60 years ago, on 26 January 1956 at 11:30, the opening ceremony of the Cortina Winter Olympic Games took place, these being the first Olympic Games occurring in Italy.
At the opening of the proceedings, the Mayor of Cortina Andrea Franceschi also intervened. President Malagò then continued by complimenting the female and male athletes that gained world-class results in the last month. Sincere congratulations were expressed for the successful visit paid by the Committee for the promotion of the Rome 2024 Olympics, together with the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, to IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne.
The Board then took note of the letter from Ottavio Cinquanta, communicating that he will not stand at he next election of the International Ice Sports Federation, and that therefore from June he will no longer be a member of IOC. The Board expressed great affection for and friendship towards Cinquanta, who promised to continue to promote Italian sport initiatives all the same. On 28 January, at 5:30 pm, at CONI's Salone d'Onore, commemorations will take place to mark 50 years since the Bremen Tragedy. The Annual Report summary prepared by Enrico Cataldi, Prosecutor General for Sport, was then examined and praised: over the course of 2015, Cataldi tackled 3,242 files. With reference to the upcoming Youth Winter Olympic Games planned at Lillehammer between 12 and 21 February, the Italian team is now set, led by Anna Riccardi and composed by 37 athletes (20 males and 17 females), of which 21 belonging to FISI and 16 to FISG. The standard-bearer will be Felix Schwarz, luger from Merano, who just turned 18 on 1st January.
The Board also approved the regulation to support female athletes in maternity leave. The Board then took note of the resignation of the Extraordinary Administrator of the Italian Bowling Federation, Francesco Purromuto, for newly arisen international commitments, and decided to entrust the post to Antonello De Tullio, with Alvio La Face as Deputy Administrator. The Board then nominated Luigi Fischetti as member of the First section of the Italian Anti-Doping Tribunal. 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.
The Italian team has been selected, 37 athletes will be in Lillehammer. Luger Felix Schwarz will be the flagbearer
CONI's National Board met today in Cortina, and formalised the composition of the Italian team for the second edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will be held at Lillehammer from 12 to 21 February. There will be ten days of races with more than a thousand competing athletes (from 15 to 18 years old), representing 70 countries, ready to challenge each other across 70 competitions. The Italian delegation, under the guide of Anna Riccardi, one of CONI's Olympic Preparation executives, will be represented by 37 athletes across 13 disciplines, with luger Felix Schwarz (born in 1998), designated as flagbearer for the delegation and winner of the junior World Cup, in the double with Lukas Gufler. Here is the complete list:
WINTER SPORTS (21)
ALPINE SKIING (4): Pietro Canzio, Michael Tedde, Sofia Pizzato, Carlotta Saracco. CROSS COUNTRY SKIING (2): Luca Del Fabbro, Chiara De Zolt Ponte. NORDIC COMBINED (1): Aaron Kostner. SKI JUMPING (2): Alessio Longo, Lara Malsiner. LUGE (5): Fabian Malleiller, Ivan Nagler, Felix Schwarz, Lukas Gufler, Marion Oberhofer. BIATHLON (4): Patrick Braunhofer, Cedric Christelli, Irene Lardschneider, Samuela Comola. SNOWBOARD (1): Caterina Carpano. FREESTYLE SKIING (2): Tobias Knollseisen, Sophia Insam.
ICE SPORTS (16)
CURLING (4): Alberto Zisa, Luca Rizzolli, Martina Ghezze, Stefania Constantini. ICE HOCKEY (1): Anita Muraro. SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING (1): Gloria Ioriatti. SPEED SKATING (4). Francesco Betti, Jeffrey Rosanelli, Noemi Bonazza, Chiara Cristelli. FIGURE SKATING (6): Adiren Bannister, Edoardo Caputo, Pietro Papetti, Lucrezia Gennaro, Irma Angela Caldara and Francesca Righi.
Celebration of 60 years since the First Edition of the Olympic Games in Italy. Malagò: precious memories
Italian sport celebrates Cortina. At the eve of the 60th anniversary of the opening ceremony of the first edition of Olympic Games hosted in Italy, CONI paid tribute, with a gala evening, to the city that in 1956, thanks to the Olympic event, carved itself a key role in the world arena. The event kicked off with the filming of the event by Rai TV, that for the first time transmitted a live Olympic event, with Giuliana Minuzzo as first protagonist of the athletes' oath and then of the regrets for those races that were marked by misfortune: a moment that was accompanied by the welcome, official but full of warmth, by Malagò, President of CONI, in attendance together with the Secretary General Fabbricini, the Deputy Secretary General Carlo Mornati, the Vice Presidents Scarso and Buonfiglio, the members of the Board (which tomorrow will exceptionally be held right in the Council Hall of the Municipality of Cortina, for meeting no. 1042) and the Presidents of FISI, Roda, and FISG, Gios. Everyone emphasised the importance of this Olympic "first time", with good wishes expressed for the Rome 2024 candidature. Show and emotions, an endless flashback, relived ideally together with some of the most significant protagonists of that edition, the seventh of the Winter Games: the last Olympic torch bearer, Guido Caroli (speed skating) recounted how he fell with the torch before the tripod was lit: "It was due to a cable that they guaranteed would be removed on the day: I was looking at the audience, did not look at the ground, and the cable was still there so I slipped". Together with him, skaters Carlo Calzà and Bruno Alberti, injured before the descent.
Cortina was represented by mayor Andrea Franceschini, in a unique setting: the Cortina Ski Club, founded in 1930 by 18 Roman students and symbol of the promotion of the most authentic values of the competitive sports movement, as highlighted by the plate gifted by CONI to Andrea Reale, director of the establishment, who then returned the favour in kind with a collector's gift, related to the historic postcards of the Games of 1956. The menu was embellished by wines from the Ferrari and Tenute Lunelli wineries.
President Malagò highlighted the importance of this meeting. "We are proud to remember the protagonists of that edition and to guest some of them. Cortina was the Olympic Game that brought Eugenio Monti to fame: he then won the IOC De Coubertin Prize for a commendable act of fair play. This anniversary occurs in a particularly happy moment for the Italian winter sport and ice sport team, thanks to a shared path with great vision. Cortina is working on the 2021 World Cup, I am sure that this celebration will be the prelude to a future that stands up to the talents and beauty that this city is able to generate". In Cortina 1956, Italy won three medals in bobsleigh, of which one gold (Giacomo Conti and Lamberto Dalla Costa). The President of the Republic, Gronchi, was responsible for inaugurating the Games.
Renzi visits the IOC: “Rome awaits you”. Bach: “Very strong bid”, Montezemolo: “Medal plaza at Colosseum”
“The Olympic spirit is very important, but we want to win” said Prime Minister Matteo Renzi shaking hands with IOC number one Thomas Bach. With the Prime Minister, the leaders of the Rome 2024 bid Committee, President Luca di Montezemolo, Vice President Luca Pancalli, coordinator general Diana Bianchedi, Fiona May in charge of athlete relations, along with CONI president Giovanni Malagò and the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini. Members of the Italian IOC, Mario Pescante, Ottavio Cinquanta, Franco Carraro, and Asoif President Francesco Ricci Bitti were also present.
“This is the right moment for Rome. The government is here, we will do our best until 2017. An event like the Olympics is a great opportunity. The projects are ready, the government is working together with CONI because sport is a piece of the Italian culture and an investment for the future” said Prime Minister that was “very excited” for the visit at the heart of the Olympic movement. “Rome is a very strong candidature – he added -. Respect for everyone but fear of no one”.
“We have seen the presentation of a very strong bid candidature which is addressing all the Olympic Agenda 2020 with a great combination of tradition and innovation by making use of many existing facilities and leaving a great legacy for the Romans and for the Italians. We have strong commitment by the President of the Council of Ministers and the whole government who with all his dynamism and commitment made the point here for the candidature of Roma so we are very pleased with this meeting and we wish the candidature of Rome all the very best in this journey until the election of the host city next year” concluded Bach.
“Italy has an incredible sporting tradition”, said Rome 2024 bid President Luca di Montezemolo. “Think of the leaders of the Olympic Committee like Giulio Onesti, think of the Olympic Games in 1960 that have been the first Olympics of the modern era. We are confident but the competition is still long. The bid Committee is working hard, with great unity of purpose and with the help and support of everyone, "he said, pausing then on the details of the candidature file which will be officially presented on February 17 at the IOC headquarters. According to Montezemolo, "the Flavian Amphitheatre, will be the site of the medal plaza. There will be events in Caracalla, at the beach volleyball court. The entire city with its archaeological sites will live the Olympics”. The candidature file will be presented to the IOC on February 17th, with the three areas and 70% of existing venues ready”.
The CONI President Malagò highlighted the strong sporting component of the Rome 2024 team, “Bianchedi, May, Mornati, Pancalli”. “It was a wonderful meeting, in a great atmosphere, we talked about what we are building. It was very important that the government confirmed its commitment”.
“Renzi was extraordinary not only for supporting the bid but also for the way he conducted the meeting," explained vice-president Luca Pancalli enthusiastic. "We came in with a smile and go out smiling even more, knowing that we must continue to work hard and cultivate the desire to win”.
“The meeting went very well,” said the Rome 2024 coordinator general Diana Bianchedi. "Renzi and Bach covered the technical aspects, but what emerged from this meeting is really the great energy and positive spirit in the group”.
77% of Italians favorable to Rome’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games according to Ipsos Research
The Rome 2024 bid Committee publishes the results of an opinion poll relating to the possibility of hosting international events in Italy, with a specific focus on Rome’s bid to host the XXXIII edition of the Summer Olympics.
The 2.200 interviews conducted by polling firm IPSOS revealed that 3/4 of Italians are in favor of hosting large events in the country- also drawing from recent successful events like the 2006 Olympics and EXPO 2015 -, while 77% (between Romans (66%) and Province residents (76%) ) have expressed support for Rome's Bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, with the Paralympic Games emerging as a major sport event known to about 60% of the interviewed population.
The consensus stems from the perceived opportunity that the Games represent in triggering employment, as well as in promoting a positive image of the country at the international level; while at the same time fostering the City’s infrastructural development and delivery of services to its residents.
Rome’s Bid is also strengthened by the trust of the many who believe in the good and transparent management of the event. Overall, the idea of hosting the Games found full support in the population which identifies the event as an incredible opportunity for the country.
View the complete Ipsos research
Intense reviewing session ahead of the appointment with the IOC
Reviewing session time for Rome 2024, in preparation of the Olympic summit dedicated to Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games between Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and IOC president Thomas Bach, planned in Lausanne on next Thursday. This week was marked by some important preparatory meetings aimed at finalizing the candidature file the IOC will receive on February 17th .
Today took place the second meeting with the Board of Trustees, where the participants had the chance to discuss and share the main guidelines of the project in light of the principles contained in the Olympic Agenda 2020.
The bid Committee, with its President Luca di Montezemolo, the Vice President Luca Pancalli, the General Coordinator Diana Bianchedi, together with the President of the Italian Olympic Committee Giovanni Malagò also welcomed representatives of the main environmental associations. “It has been a very constructive debate which will be followed by a more technical one, confirming our bid process as a shared endeavor one” said the general coordinator Diana Bianchedi. Bid Committee President Luca di Montezemolo further commented: “I was positively impressed by today’s inclusive spirit as well as by a careful and constructive approach towards the Olympic project. We have all the same goal: to ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Games will play a decisive role in renewing Rome from a structural, environmental and technological front”.
The Committee has also met with the team of the University of Tor Vergata - Rome coordinated by Professor Beniamino Quintieri whose analysis and study on the sustainability and legacy of the 2024 Games is now in advanced phase: "We are producing a report for the Committee on the evaluation of the real socio-economic benefits of the Games for the city of Rome and Italy. We will evaluate the employment growth, the increase in tourism, foreign investments as well as the improvement of services and infrastructures. We currently have estimated that, thanks to the Games, about 180,000 jobs will be available for young people” explains the professor. “It is still premature to make any definitive claims based on this study. Nevertheless, this analysis shows that the Games would guarantee additional revenues for 1 billion euros, I am then even more convinced that we have a unique opportunity for the renewal of Rome, a world’s a heritage that belongs to all Italians”.
Torch Tour for Lillehammer 2016 underway
The Lillehammer 2016 Torch Tour kicked off last night at the Norwegian Sports Awards Gala. Attended by the Crown Prince and the 19 inspirational young Changemakers that have been nominated in each of the 19 counties to carry the Torch. They have been nominated for their activities in the community to use sport for good. The next stop will be tomorrow in Alta, the very far north of Norway and over the next month it will wind its way down to Lillehammer in time for the Opening Ceremony on 12 February.
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