Fausto Coppi returns to Castellania. Malagò inaugurates the statue realised for Rome 1960

Castellania pays homage to its foremost Champion, the "Campionissimo". Today, Castellania, a town in the province of Alessandria that saw the birth of Fausto Coppi, inaugurated the statue of the cyclist. It is a bronze statue created for the 1960 Rome Olympics by artist Volterrano Volterrani.

The initiative, promoted by the Fausto and Serse Coppi Association of Castellaria, led by Claudio Pesci, was possible thanks to the receptiveness of CONI, which conceded as a free loan to the Municipality the use of the sculpture.

The inauguration occurred with the presence of Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, and Alberto Miglietta, Managing Director of Coni Services, together with His Excellency Vittorio Viola, Bishop of Tortona, the children of the "Campionissimo", Marina and Fausto, and Sergio Vallenzona, Mayor of Castellania.

The statue, once on display in front of the Rome Velodrome, has remained in Eur's warehouses for a long time. "We managed to overcome many problems and to bring this important work of art to its natural home", said the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò,  "It took five years to get all the authorisations, including the one from the Monuments and Fine Arts Office, to bring the work of art back to its splendour and display it in the town that Fausto Coppi made famous."

"Sport has always been my addiction", added Malagò, "and my father is a great fan of Coppi.  He always told me that, whatever I did in life, I should always have only one idol: Fausto Coppi, an athlete that was and is unique in the world". In Castellania, the President of CONI also visited the mausoleum dedicated to the cycling champion.

Taormina exalts fencing. Entertainment, sport competition and a lot of excitement

Pure entertainment, full of excitement. Magic feelings and a real sport competition. The ancient theatre of Taormina welcomed with all its charm the fencing event featuring Italy against the Rest of the world, in the two specialities of female foil and the male épée.  The event was organised as part of the initiatives to support Expo 2015, under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Office and of CONI. The project, "SPORT @ EXPO2015 - Nutrition and sport teamwork", created in collaboration with ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), already brought water polo to Capri and female volleyball to Florence.

Taormina and its ancient theatre have created a real show in parallel with the fencing tournament.  Dancers of the Company of Araund Mnais opened the evening, while "Molecole volanti" (flying molecules) performed aerial dances and the Joculares group did a fire performance.

It was then the time of the female foil dream team. Valentina Vezzali, Arianna Errigo, Elisa Di Francisca and Martina Batini put themselves to the test with a real match against the champions of the rest of the world, led by the German Carolin Golubytskyi, the French Ysaora Thibus, the American Nzingha Prescod and the Tunisian Ines Boubakri. All amongst the finest fencers.

Indeed, it was not easy for the Italian team to win. After a good start, when Vezzali and her companions managed to lead by as much as 17 points (30-13), the patient work of the American Prescod and French Thibus slowly eroded all the advantage away from both Errigo and Di Francisca. The final was breathtaking, with the score getting to 47 on both sides, but the last winning thrust came from Arianna Errigo.

Equally balanced also the male épée.match.  Enrico Garozzo, Marco Fichera, Andrea Santarelli and Gabriele Cimini started falling behind against the Venezuelan Ruben Limardo, the Hungarian Geza Imre, the Spanish Josè Luis Abajo e the Senegalese Alexandre Bouzaid.

But the Italian team managed to react and get on the lead, if only by a small amount, during the second part of the match, closing first with Garozzo 45 to 42 against the world champion Imre, and then, in the last match, Marco Fichera against Abajo managed to bring victory to the Italian team with an analogous 48-47. In truth, it was sport that won.

After the tournament, grand finale with different groups performing on stage. There is still time to pay tribute to the fencer that won the most Olympic medals of all times: Edoardo Mangiarotti. The 13 times in which he stood on the Olympic podium were celebrated by the CONI Deputy President and President of the Italian Fencing Federation, Giorgio Scarso, and by the President of CONI Sicily regional Committee, Sergio D'Antoni, with a plate for the two athletes that totalled the highest number of thrusts in the two competitions.  Valentina Vezzali won the award for female foil and the Spanish Josè Luis Abajo the award for male épée.  The awards were handed over by the daughter of the unforgotten "King of the épée", Carola Mangiarotti.

Generale Gallitelli is nominated as head of NADO ITALY. Malagò: this choice stands for credibility

This morning, at the Foro Italico, Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, together with Roberto Fabbricini, Secretary General, and Carlo Mornati, Deputy Secretary General, presented today the new Head of the Anti-doping agency NADO ITALY, General Leonardo Gallitelli, former Commander of the Arma dei Carabinieri (National Military Police Corps).

The nomination of Gallitelli was approved by the meeting of the National Board, which was held last Tuesday in Turin. President Malagò, expressing the feeling of pride of the Italian sport world for the high profile of the new Head, revealed the path that lead to a nomination that has what it takes to embody the turning point in the anti-doping sector.  "It is a further step along the way opened by Cosimo Piccinno, whom I remember always with respect and fondness. After the implementation document signed in May with the NAS (department of the carabinieri responsible for controls of foodstuff, drinks, medicine, etc.), it remained for us to choose the person to run the organisation, to be identified together with the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Health. I presented Gallitellli's name to the Prime MInister, Matteo Renzi, who agreed with the choice, and then I received also the complete and unconditional approval of the Minister of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin. This change of power confirms the will to bring even more transparency to an anti-doping agency with recognised credibility, certified also by WADA, and appreciated internationally. Gallitelli's nomination stands for even more credibility, the certainty to be able to rely on a responsible and important contribution.  He will take every decision: he accepted after having considered and researched the topic. I am also grateful to NAS as they allowed us to develop this path. NAS will be given an important award for their contribution to the sporting world in the anti-doping field".

General Leonardo Gallitelli thanked Malagò and the world of sport for the prestigious nomination. "After my experience of more than 47 years in the Carabinieri, I was looking for an experience that would provide continuity in its content. Over the years, we fought against all substances polluting our social life, and doping also fits in this category. NADO ITALY will operate with independence and autonomy. What has been done to this day speaks of great efficiency; it is a privilege to be able to count on an excellent base, constituted by the current organisation. Absolute rigour will reign over our operations, with the will to continue to develop and advance this model".

Malagò meets Livio Berruti: the Rome 1960 Olympic champion celebrated on the Walk of Fame

A homage to history. Embracing the memories of the historic Olympic Games called Rome 1960 and projecting the desire to reach the dream called Rome 2024.  A journey through time, focussing on a champion without age: Livio Berruti. Today, at the Foro Italico, the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, met the first Italian sprinter who won the golden medal at the Olympics, amongst the 100 Italian sport legends present in the Walk of Fame of Viale delle Olimpiadi. On 3 September 1960, at the Olympic Stadium, Berruti left his indelible signature on the five-circled epic, thanks to his unforgettable 200 metres.

This afternoon, he recalled that moment of immortal glory by honouring, together with his wife Silvia, the invite issued by Malagò, on behalf of Italian sport.  "A special emotion, an extraordinary memory", emphasised the Olympic champion, after having lingered upon the plate that frames his name in legend.

Rome 2024: “Proud to be here, we have a major project and a dream for our children”

Following the International Olympic Committee's announcement today of the five candidate cities for the 2024 Olympic Games, as spokesman for Rome 2024 said:

"We are extremely proud and honoured to be part of a process which includes four of the world's greatest cities - Paris, Los Angeles, Hamburg and Budapest. We sincerely thank the IOC for this fantastic opportunity. 

"But now the real challenge begins. The next two years will be tough but we are ready to go all the way with great enthusiasm. The experience of hosting the 1960 Olympics left a special mark on Rome and Italy and we are focused on reviving the spirt of those historic Games. 

"A Rome Olympics in 2024 will not only deliver a great festival of sport but will also place athletes and young people at the heart of all its planning.

"We recognise the urgent need to give Romans a better city and a greater  quality of life and the Olympic project can help us create a modern city, which will ultimately become more accessible and more sustainable with full transparency in all decision making.

"Rome and Italy have important cards to play, including a heritage of unmatched beauty and culture. We are confident that with the help and support of all the key institutions we can deliver this beautiful dream for our children."

Five world-class cities in strong competition for Olympic Games 2024

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is delighted to announce a very strong field of candidates for the Olympic Games 2024. Five cities – Budapest (HUN), Hamburg (GER), Los Angeles (USA), Paris (FRA), and Rome (ITA)* – will compete to host the Olympic Games 2024 after submitting their applications to the IOC by last night’s midnight deadline.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the Host City Contract 2024 was published today. The IOC will contribute USD 1.7 billion in cash and services to the organising committee for the Olympic Games 2024.

 “We are welcoming five outstanding and highly qualified Candidate Cities,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Olympic Agenda 2020 has shaped the Candidature Process more as an invitation and the cities have responded by engaging with the IOC through dialogue and cooperation. In the new invitation process the IOC learnt that all the candidates are embracing Olympic Agenda 2020 from their respective vision for the future of their city. Sustainability and legacy are the cornerstones of each candidature.”

UEFA steps up doping fight for new season

UEFA will kick off the 2015/16 season with the strongest anti-doping programme ever seen in European football. This includes the introduction of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) steroidal biological passport to improve the identification of steroid use; a strengthening of rules related to team and player whereabouts; long-term sample storage to permit the retrospective identification of prohibited substances; and a continuation of its comprehensive blood and urine in- and out-of-competition testing programme.

This season will also see a more coordinated and intelligence-led programme than ever before, with UEFA establishing cooperation agreements with the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) of teams competing in the UEFA Champions League. So far, agreements have been signed with the NADOs of Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium (Flemish), United Kingdom, Sweden, France and Italy, with more to follow as the programme expands across Europe. This cooperation will allow for more harmonised test distribution planning, will reduce unnecessary duplication of testing, and will facilitate the sharing of information relating to player biological profiles and intelligence data to identify potential doping.

In advance of the UEFA EURO 2016 tournament, UEFA will conduct the largest pre-tournament testing programme ever implemented. All players with the potential to be selected for participating teams will be subjected to testing from 1 January 2016 via UEFA’s annual programme, and via a co-ordinated programme with NADOs including the Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage (AFLD) in the host nation France. Teams will also be tested at squad meet-ups in advance of the tournament, and following their arrival in France. The tournament itself will see an advanced analytical blood and urine testing menu implemented at all matches, with the expanded 24-team format making it the largest programme to be conducted so far at a UEFA EURO tournament.

The chairman of the UEFA Medical Committee, Michel D'Hooghe, stated: “UEFA has always aimed to be at the forefront of efforts to keep football free from doping, and recent events in other sports have highlighted the importance of remaining ever vigilant and pushing for progress in all areas of our work. Although our doping statistics remain low amongst players in UEFA competitions, there can never be room for complacency, and UEFA remains committed to having a dynamic, multi-faceted and intelligence-led programme in which participating clubs and players can have the fullest confidence".

UEFA is also leading the way with its education programme. with a revised e-learning site currently in development; new player information leaflets for 2015/16; and the delivery of anti-doping education for the doctors of its 54 national anti-doping associations as part of the UEFA Football Doctor Education Programme workshop held in April 2015, and now to be rolled out to national associations via the UEFA 'cascading' process. UEFA conducts over 2,000 drug tests (combination of blood and urine) per season across all of its competitions.

Olympic candidature now official

The candidature of Rome to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 was officialised today at the meeting that took place in Campidoglio, Rome, with the participation of Ignazio Marino, Mayor of Rome, Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, Luca Montezemolo, President of the Committee for the promotion of the Rome 2024 Olympics, Luca Pancalli, President of the Paralympic Committee, Giovanni Caudo, the City Councillor responsible for Urban Planning and Claudia Bugno, General Coordinator of the Rome 2024 Olympic Committee.

During the meeting, everybody shared the need to identify the priorities and the features of the organisation of the sporting event, to fully embrace the amazing opportunity to develop and improve the city.

On this occasion, it was confirmed as feasible to place the Olympic village in the area of Tor Vergata, where new sport facilities will be built and the existing ones will be completed. An operation that will require the creation of an underground connection between the area and the rest of the city. The Olympics must be the opportunity to bring forth a new vision of the city, rooted in history and in the regeneration of what is in existence, with urban transformation projects starting from the development of a Tiber river park just north of Rome, which will become the gateway for “Olympic Rome”, for the enjoyment of the whole city.

Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The letter that formalizes the commitment to organize the greatest sports festival in the world was sent today to the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, that on 16^th of September will reveal  the names of all the cities that have come forward.

This morning in the Rome City Council, Rome 2024 President Luca di Montezemolo, CONI President Giovanni Malagò and the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino signed the letter that formalizes the challenge of the Italian candidature and enhances its strengths. The challenging path of the Capital begins today. The objective is to build and share a project that will provide athletes and the world "the opportunity to experience the excitement and the Olympic spirit" in a stage of unparalleled beauty. No other city in the world can offer a similar heritage of art, history and culture that embraces such a wide span of time, and that allows to "perform the Olympics in the most spectacular and symbolic venues of the Eternal City".

Beauty, culture, and above all, with the commitment of Italy, innovation and sustainability, are consistent the main guidelines dictated by the 2020 IOC Agenda  that envisage a strong focus on legacy:  the future use for the city of the structures used for the Olympics.  Indications that the Rome 2024 Committee embraces with great conviction next to the equally crucial suggestion of sobriety. Rome, as the letter explains, has many sports facilities, partially in parks and major green areas, which will be used for the 2024 Olympics with minor upgrades and, if necessary, by using temporary structures.

Finally, the letter made reference to the Olympic values, that,  in a multicultural city like the Capital, "where diversity becomes the backbone of equality", can really build a bridge to peace and friendship of all nations.

SPORT@EXPO2015: starry night in Piazza Santa Croce, 3-0 for female Italvolley against Azerbaijan

History, culture and sport. Three aspects of Italian excellence to export to world. As timeless postcards, with eternal charm and a tradition that has become an example for others.  An exceptional theatre, Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, the starry sky of a late summer night, shining over the most evocative scene: "we play under the stars", says the motto of the event, with the sky as the roof of a special and unique frame.

Indeed, during this evening in Florence, female volleyball wrote a beautiful page of sport for the second of the three events organised by CONI and the Prime Minister's Office, in the context of initiatives to support Expo 2015, through a project named "SPORT @ EXPO2015 - Nutrition and sport: teamwork!". The friendly match between Italy and Azerbaijan, dominated by the Italian national team, with an assertive 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-17), was not only a test in preparation for the European Championships (from 26 September in the Netherlands and Belgium) but an iconic event that needs to further publicised, to spread the most beautiful sport image, the winning smash on an exceptional backdrop: the Gothic Basilica, built between the XIII and XIV centuries and considered a real pantheon of Italian artists, amongst which feature Michelangelo and Galileo.  The cradle of Florentine Calcio Storico (historic football) transformed for a timeless day in a spectacular arena.

The team lead by Bonitta, cheered by a packed venue, full of people and passion, won the first set with ease (25-15), without ever giving the impression of being threatened by the opponent's attack. The beginning of the second set was apparently balanced, before the decisive change in gears that resulted in the Italian victory, by a considerable stretch (25-18). The third set reflects the course of the match: it closes with 25-17 in the embrace of Piazza Santa Croce. These are the members of the national team who were the protagonists of the evening: Raphaela Folie (Liu Jo Modena); Indre Sorokaite (Nordmeccanica Piacenza); Ofelia Malinov (Club Italia); Carolina Costagrande (Impel Wroclaw - Pol); Valentina Tirozzi (Pomì Casalmaggiore); Caterina Bosetti, Cristina Chirichella, Martina Guiggi, Stefania Sansonna and Noemi Signorile (Igor Novara); Monica De Gennaro (Imoco Conegliano); Lucia Bosetti (Fenerbahce Istanbul) and Nadia Centoni (Galatasaray Istanbul).

This is the list of the 12 players of the Azerbaijan team: Jeyran Aliyeva, Ayshan Abdulazimova, Polina Rahimova, Oksana Kiselyova, Aynur Karimova, Odina Bayramova, Katerina Zhidkova, Kseniya Poznyak, Oksana Kurt, Valeriya Mammadova, Krystsina Yagubova, Marharyta Azizova. Coach Faig Garayev. The project, called "SPORT @ EXPO2015 - Nutrition and sport: teamwork!" saw its first event last Thursday in Capri with the friendly male water polo match of Italy against Spain, facing the cliffs (Faraglioni), and will end in Taormina, in the historical Ancient Greek Theatre: Italy will face the Rest of the World in a fencing competition, a unique challenge in a setting reminiscent of distant times. The initiative's aim is to conceive and develop, exactly during the Expo period, an integrated project, educational in nature, to raise awareness and promote the theme of "sport and nutrition", connecting the value of physical activity and sport practice with some of the main themes of Expo 2015. In particular, this will be beneficial in advance of the next Olympic Games, which will take place in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

To make all this happen, high profile sporting events were conceived in some of the most beautiful places of the peninsula, with the participation of athletes of world calibre, who will draw the attention of the general public on the featured project and themes.