Tamberi at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Formia dreaming of a second Olympic gold medal: “Changes stimulate me. I will try to make history"

• ATHLETICS

Gianmarco Tamberi is revving up his engines ahead of a dazzling outdoor season that will culminate at the World Championships in Budapest. The reigning Olympic high jump champion is at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Formia for biomechanical tests with CONI’s Institute of Sports Medicine and Science.

The 30-year-old from Civitanova Marche underwent a 3D kinematic analysis of the high jump aimed at assessing aspects of the technique not immediately visible to the naked eye. The discipline comprises three different movements that are extremely complex and interlinked: the acceleration phase, turn and take-off. It is a sport in which it is particularly important to work on execution of the technique. The Institute has been using the 3D kinematic analysis of the high jump since before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and, using the information gathered, has created a data archive that makes it possible to assess the athletes' evolution and development.

“I feel great. Really good", says the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist. “I went through a complicated period with a knee issue and other minor issues that I had been carrying for the last few seasons, but thanks to my team I have put it all behind me and now I am very motivated.” Next, he turns to the tests at Formia: “I do them often, at least three or four times a year. They help me a lot to understand where we are at, the times on the ground, the times in the air, the take-off angles, to see what my best jumps look like. I’m very satisfied: I started jumping again a month ago and I can already see things shaping up nicely. In many areas, things seem to be very good technically".

“Gimbo” is preparing for the outdoor competitions with his new coach Giulio Ciotti and physical trainer Michele Palloni: “I get on very well with them. We are a team in tune, very motivated. There is a lot of dialogue between us. We are aiming high. The season’s goals? All that’s missing is gold at the World Championships, that would be the icing on the cake. At the age of 30, the changes are really pushing me on. I’ve got belief. I’ve really got a lot of belief and I am working to try to win that medal. I will face very competitive opponents, I will do my best to make things hard for them". 

Looking even further ahead, thoughts inevitably turn to next year’s main event, not least because Tamberi has already declared that Paris 2024 will be his last Olympics: “I can't wait to be there. I want to live out this remaining year and a half with all the energy I have, to put everything into it and not regret anything. I know I am still strong, I am not going to go to Los Angeles 2028 just to limp over the line. From the World Championships in Budapest in August to the European Championships in Rome 2024 and the Olympics I want to give everything. No jumper has ever managed to win gold twice in a row at the Olympic Games: it would be nice to go down in history". 

Fukuoka World Championships: the National teams rounds have been drawn. The first Olympic passes are up for grabs

• WATER POLO

The opponents of the Italian national teams at the 2023 World Water Polo Championships have been decided. The group draw was held today in Athens (Greece) for the 20th edition of the world championship event scheduled in Fukuoka (Japan) from 16 to 29 July.

Carlo Silipo’s Setterosa team was drawn in Group C, where they will face Brazil, South Africa and Greece.

Alessandro Campagna's Settebello, meanwhile, will compete in the first phase in Group B against France, Canada, and China. As the first qualifying event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World Championships will have as many as four five-ring passes up for grabs, for two finalist national teams per gender.

“We can ease ourselves into the event", declared Silipo. “In the first two days we will meet Brazil and South Africa, opponents we must respect but who are within our reach. Then another tournament will begin: beating Greece would be important to get an extra day’s rest and, above all, to avoid the United States in the quarter-finals", concluded the coach of the Setterosa.

“It is a group that is certainly within our reach", Campagna commented. “We have been lucky, even if France is a team that is currently on the rise. Then from the quarter-finals the real challenges will begin. I am convinced that all the strongest world water polo teams will want to avoid us: over the next few months we will look to improve and live up to this great event in 2023", explained the coach of the Settebello.

Marcell Jacobs relentless: “I want gold at the World Championships. Paris 2024? I will try to be champion again”

• ATHLETICS

An important day for Marcell Jacobs. On the athletics track at the “Salvo D’Acquisto” barracks of the Arma dei Carabinieri in Rome, the Olympic 100-metre and 4x100 relay champion underwent a number of tests using the aerodynamic shield devised by the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science. Under the supervision of the Institute's technicians and coach Paolo Camossi, the Azzurro medallist underwent speed endurance tests over 150 metres, in which he was able to reach 10 metres per second. Nine months after the tests carried out in preparation for the World Championships in Eugene 2022, the Tokyo 2020 champion returned to the Tor di Quinto track to test himself with the shield developed from a 1987 project by Professor Antonio Dal Monte, former Scientific Director and Head of the Department of Physiology and Biomechanics at the Institute of Sports Science. The shield makes it possible to reach higher speeds than normal by eliminating air resistance, resulting in a more powerful, wider and faster stride. As a result, the nervous system stores this information in its motor memory, which the athlete then tends to recall, resulting in higher performance.

“We are in the preparation phase of the season", Jacobs explains. “The work we’re doing is going really well, I can't wait to compete: after all, this is what we train for. The tests with the shield are very important. They allow us to reach speeds that we wouldn’t normally reach. This way, the body and muscles get used to much higher frequencies. They are demanding tests, but at the same time fun". 

Looking ahead to the next events, the sprinter says: “My main goal for the season is to do well at the World Championships in Budapest in August – it is the only medal I am missing. At the end of 2023 I will be satisfied if I have been crowned World Champion. The relay? We are a very close group. We trained together last month and we will be together again next week at the meeting. We motivate and push each other: we want to continue to achieve great results". 

In closing, Jacobs had this to say about the Olympic Games: “When I think about Paris 2024 I feel a bit of weight on my shoulders. Tokyo was an opportunity to show who I was, in France I will have to continue to prove it. I will arrive as an Olympic champion and I will try to leave as an Olympic champion again". 

CONI raises the #WhiteCard. Azzurri support the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

• PEACE AND SPORT

Italia Team support the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP). 

Once again this year CONI, led by President Giovanni Malagò, joined the global digital campaign #WhiteCard, created by Peace and Sport to promote the positive values of sport. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2013 and now running for a decade, the event is held every year on 6 April – the day on which the opening ceremony of the first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896. The Day reminds the world of the importance of sport in dialogue between peoples, in social inclusion and its role in promoting peace.

With the motto “10 anni uniti con la #WhiteCard” (10 years united with the #WhiteCard), the Azzurri of Italia Team, as well as athletes from all over the world, International Federations, Olympic Committees and numerous international organisations took part in the campaign, testimony to the recognition of sport as an instrument for peace, and a pre-requisite to building more inclusive societies.

To hold a #WhiteCard, just like a referee, is indeed to display a symbol of peace and, unlike a red card, which represents the most serious offence in sport, the #WhiteCard is a gesture of inclusion and equality.

The Torch is lit at the Ara Pacis: the journey towards Krakow 2023 gets underway from Rome

• EUROPEAN GAMES

The countdown towards the European Games in Krakow (Poland), scheduled from 21 June to 2 July 2023, has officially begun in Rome at the Ara Pacis.

The third edition of the largest multi-sport event at a European level will see the participation of 7,000 athletes from 48 countries. 30 sporting disciplines will be involved, 11 of which will award Olympic passes for Paris 2024.

In the world’s oldest temple, a universal symbol of peace and fraternity, the Torch was formally delivered and ignited. It then began its journey towards the Malopolska region in the hands of Anita Wlodarczyk, multiple Polish Olympic hammer throwing champion.

The ceremony, presided over by the President of the European Olympic Committees Spyros Capralos, was also attended, among others, by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs Andrea Abodi, and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. Also present were Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of ASOIF, the association that brings together the International Olympic Summer Federations and Raffaele Pagnozzi, Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees.

“Being here today is a very proud honour", Malagò said in his opening speech at the ceremony. “It is magnificent to be able to present this ceremony in such an iconic place, in the heart of the city of Rome. This is the third edition of the Games. I remember very well when it all began. This event has grown steadily and represents something very important for the entire Olympic movement and the European continent", concluded the CONI President.

This was echoed by Andrea Abodi: “I am honoured to be able to represent the Italian government in such a significant event. Italy and Poland are guided by the same sentiments. Peace represents the main value to be achieved in a period of history such as the one we are living through. I hope that the symbols celebrated can be a good omen in this sense". 

“This is a fantastic place and I am very thrilled", declared Duda. “As a representative of Poland, we are ready to receive this symbol of such great significance. I am proud and excited to hold these Games in our country. Krakow, after Baku and Minsk, will be the first city of the European Union to host these Games, the second most important event in the history of our country. I hope they will be held in an atmosphere of wholehearted sportsmanship. In the coming days I will host President Volodymyr Zelensky and we will talk about the situation in Ukraine. Our country is taking in a large number of refugees fleeing from the war. These Games will be about peace and brotherhood, but we will not pretend that everything is going well. Ukraine was invaded by Russia and Belarus supported the invasion: I am grateful to President Capralos for banning both countries from participating in the event. I thank everyone for the opportunity to host these Games. I wish all the best to all 48 delegations when the Games start", stated the Polish president.

“It is always a privilege to be able to organise such a symbolic event. For a fortnight Poland will be the heart of European sport. I thank President Duda for the great support given to this event. The Games represent an event of enormous importance for the country’s history", said Capralos.

The President of the European Olympic Committees also presented Duda with the Ulivo d’Oro of the Dea Pax, made exclusively for the EOC by sculptor and goldsmith Nicola Amato and forged from the same fire used to light the Torch.

European Championships Rome: two golds and two silvers on the last day, Italy closes with 67 medals

• SWIMMING

Italy closes the XXXVI edition of the European Aquatic Disciplines Championships, being held in Rome in style. At the start of the day, Domenico Acerenza triumphed in the 10 km open water race of the After the silver in the 5 km behind teammate Gregorio Paltrinieri, 'Mimmo' got rid of the competition by increasing the pace in the last few metres and with a time of 1h50'33'6 won the gold medal. Frenchmen Marc-Antoine Olivier completed the podium, silver in 1h50'37'3, and Logan Fontaine, bronze with a time of 1h50'39'1. Seventh was Gregorio Paltrinieri (1h51'12'7), thirteenth Andrea Manzi (1h56'31'7). 

'It was a super tough race, ' explains Acerenza, ' in which on the last lap, we even missed the refuelling because we had not seen the boat. On the second lap, I could see someone in front, but I couldn't tell who it was. Finally, they told us they had a fifty-second lead on the third lap, so I started to push. The sea did not allow us to swim well, but it was a wonderful effort. I would like to thank my two clubs, the Fiamme Oro and Canottieri Napoli, the Federation and all those who supported me before and during the European Championships in Rome. Hearing the Mameli Anthem played is a great emotion for me. It makes one quiver‘.

In the women's Olympic distance race, Ginevra Taddeucci won the silver medal with a time of 2h01'15'2, behind only Germany's Leonie Antonia Beck (2h01'13'4). Bronze went to Portugal's Angelica André (2h01'15'2), who beat Dutchwoman Sharon Van Rouwendaal (2h01'16'6) in a photo finish. Fifth place for Rachele Bruni (2h01'31'5), seventh for Giulia Gabbrielleschi (2h02'09'3), already bronze in the 5 km. 

'With the waves, you couldn't see anything,' adds Ginevra, ' the sea rose, and swimming became more and more difficult. It was an exhausting effort. I'm so happy, I couldn’t believe it, I was just thinking it’ll get me- it won’t; in the end, I managed to resist. I tried to implement the experience of past competitions I have done, such as the Italian championships. I said to myself let's try to increase. Maybe I can keep myself in front. I knew that if I stayed at the back, then I couldn't get back up. I would say that this tactic went well. I dedicate this medal to myself, to my coach, who puts up with me so much because I am not easy to train, and to my parents, who have always accompanied me to training since I was a child and whom I wanted to repay in some way‘.

The national cross-country swimming team closed on a high note with the continental title in the 4x1250 metre Team Event. Rachele Bruni, Ginevra Taddeucci, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Domenico Acerenza took the top step of the podium with a time of 59'43'1, ahead of Hungary (59'53'9) and France (1h00'08'3).

'Very happy for this relay medal and to have won it with them. For me, it also means a new start,' says Bruni. 'What a thrill to sing the national anthem twice, almost unbelievable - Acerenza's joyCredit to everyone: Competing in such a strong, beautiful, and close-knit team is spectacular. 'Lucky day, I will always remember this 21 August. I am happy because we are a great team,' Taddeucci continued. 'We are competitive everywhere, in the sea as well as in the pool. We have very solid teams with many points. Our movement has grown, and today we represent the top. Credit to us and our coaches, our clubs and the Federation,' 'SuperGreg' concludes.

Italy also made the podium diving with Lorenzo Marsaglia and Giovanni Tocci in the synchro from the 3-metre springboard. The Italian pair won the silver medal with a score of 387.51, behind Britain's Anthony Harding and Jack Laugher (412.83). Bronze for Ukrainians Oleksandr Horshkovozov and Oleg Kolodiy (384.39).

'It was a good race,' explained Tocci, 'we knew the British were strong. We believed we would make it, and this time we are together on the podium and the same step. I believe that with a perfect performance, the English could have been beaten, but it would not have been so easy‘.'A European to be rewarded with a grade higher than ten, perhaps praise,' adds Marsaglia. They were unforgettable, exhilarating days in which we were always carried away by a warm audience‘. 

On the other hand, Andreas Sargent Larsen finished at the foot of the podium in the individual competition from the 10-metre platform. A great race by the Italian, who finished in fourth place with a score of 417.20. Gold for young Ukrainian phenom Oleksii Sereda (493.55 points), ahead of Great Britain's Noah Williams (459.00) and Ben Cutmore (438.35). Ninth position for the other Italian at the start, Eduard Timbretti Gugiu, with 333.85 points. Italy, therefore, closes this continental exhibition at home in first place on the medals table with a total of 67 medals: 24 gold, 24 silver and 19 bronze medals (Photo Andrea Masini and Diego Montano/DBM)

Declaration by Mr Malagò regarding the Rai-Discovery agreement for the broadcast of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games

• CONI

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, has issued the following statement with regard to the notification of the approval - on the part of the governing body of Rai - of the agreement with Discovery for the acquisition of the free-to-air radio and television broadcasting rights for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games.

“We are very pleased that Rai has acquired the broadcasting rights for the Winter Olympic Games, because it perfectly complements what is already on offer from Discovery with Eurosport. We have always supported this opportunity which allows the greatest possible visibility for winter disciplines, the sponsors and those who have invested in this project. I also with to thank the Discovery group, and my best wishes to the President and General Director of Rai.”

Malagò concludes Stati Generali: CONI at the heart of life in our country

• WITH GIANNI LETTA AND PAOLA SEVERINO

CONI’s President, Giovanni Malagò, - with Paola Severino and Gianni Letta - concluded the procedures of “Stati Generali dello Sport italiano”. The President thanked the speakers for their contribution and the staff - coordinated by Diana Bianchedi - who took care of the organisation of the event. “We are proud of having created this event, able to gather the stakeholders in our world and develop essential themes for the future, in a non-complacent manner. Every intervention was independent and we are pleased that the activities that are carried out with passion, courage and a spirit of initiative by the Organisation have been highlighted. In the last few years we have rationalised CONI’s organisation - with Coni Servizi - making significant savings and significantly increasing marketing revenues, something that has allowed us to grow in spite of the fact that our funding has remained the same. We are satisfied with the results achieved at institutional level, by the anti-doping sport justice - with the recognition of the impartiality of NADO Italia - the social initiatives with Ministries and with MUIR for sport in schools, without forgetting the Olympic Training Centres, which are almost unrecognisable, thanks to the interventions implemented, but now we need the help of the stakeholders to support them. I am aware that Federations always need more resources for their activities and therefore we need to work hard to grow. I am thinking of the organisations which have incurred deficits, by investing - as in the case of cycling - to achieve extraordinary results. We would like to have the responsibility to respond to many more requests that we receive from across the country, but sometime it is out of our hands. CONI, however, wants to remain at the heart of the sport, economic and social life of our country: to do this we need to find additional resources. I want to thank the athletes that have achieved great successes and who prepare us for further challenges. There is growing attention paid today to our world by companies, there is great demand, and sport is seen also as an occupational opportunity after competing. It is not a coincidence that the warmest welcome was that reserved to Niccolò Campriani, for the experience he has lived and has told us about. In five years he has won three gold and one silver Olympic medals. Yesterday Alleva told us that who does sport, in a certain age band, does so for study reasons. Niccolò instead told us that it was precisely the sport-work combination that allowed him to feed his passion for competition”.

Paola Severino, chancellor at Luiss: “It was an important detailed study in terms of the ability to put together many themes, an incredibly effective experiment. LUISS yesterday celebrated a sport festival, and we are pleased because it has highlighted the importance of the movement. I believe that management represents a fundamental aspect, training is essential and it gives even more value to the contents of an extraordinary movement.”

Gianni Letta: “They have been two days of great interest, aimed at reforms with opportunities for great enlightenment. We must recognise that Malagò, Fabbricini e Bianchedi have achieved a civic event of great significance. In the five seminars they have summarised the issues affecting sport, there was a high degree of difficulty and a quality of speakers that have allowed us to develop debates of the highest quality. Mr Malagò did not only address sport people but projected sport in its social context, every session was aimed at this. Sport is not only a beautiful thing, it is much more than this: it is one of the elements that can make a difference, that could drag the country forward because it has the dynamic ability to put itself forward as a model. It shows the right path to recovery. Mr Malagò reminded us that there is no mention of sport in our Constitutions but he also added that there is no mention of school in the CONI Statute. Institutions must be made aware of how to value sport. For this, reforms are so important. The example of the value of sport, as General Gallitelli reminded us, is decisive. Autonomy is sacrosanct, but it must be defended by politics itself, and it essential that it is central to our intentions more than in our written rules. All reflections have a value that surpasses this horizon and must be a cause of institutional reflection for the proposals put forward. A strong reminder of the value of sport in the context of a community.” 

CONI’s President, Giovanni Malagò, - with Paola Severino and Gianni Letta - concluded the procedures of “Stati Generali dello Sport italiano”. The President thanked the speakers for their contribution and the staff - coordinated by Diana Bianchedi - who took care of the organisation of the event. “We are proud of having created this event, able to gather the stakeholders in our world and develop essential themes for the future, in a non-complacent manner. Every intervention was independent and we are pleased that the activities that are carried out with passion, courage and a spirit of initiative by the Organisation have been highlighted. In the last few years we have rationalised CONI’s organisation - with Coni Servizi - making significant savings and significantly increasing marketing revenues, something that has allowed us to grow in spite of the fact that our funding has remained the same. We are satisfied with the results achieved at institutional level, by the anti-doping sport justice - with the recognition of the impartiality of NADO Italia - the social initiatives with Ministries and with MUIR for sport in schools, without forgetting the Olympic Training Centres, which are almost unrecognisable, thanks to the interventions implemented, but now we need the help of the stakeholders to support them. I am aware that Federations always need more resources for their activities and therefore we need to work hard to grow. I am thinking of the organisations which have incurred deficits, by investing - as in the case of cycling - to achieve extraordinary results. We would like to have the responsibility to respond to many more requests that we receive from across the country, but sometime it is out of our hands. CONI, however, wants to remain at the heart of the sport, economic and social life of our country: to do this we need to find additional resources. I want to thank the athletes that have achieved great successes and who prepare us for further challenges. There is growing attention paid today to our world by companies, there is great demand, and sport is seen also as an occupational opportunity after competing. It is not a coincidence that the warmest welcome was that reserved to Niccolò Campriani, for the experience he has lived and has told us about. In five years he has won three gold and one silver Olympic medals. Yesterday Alleva told us that who does sport, in a certain age band, does so for study reasons. Niccolò instead told us that it was precisely the sport-work combination that allowed him to feed his passion for competition”.

Paola Severino, chancellor at Luiss: “It was an important detailed study in terms of the ability to put together many themes, an incredibly effective experiment. LUISS yesterday celebrated a sport festival, and we are pleased because it has highlighted the importance of the movement. I believe that management represents a fundamental aspect, training is essential and it gives even more value to the contents of an extraordinary movement”.

Gianni Letta: “They have been two days of great interest, aimed at reforms with opportunities for great enlightenment. We must recognise that Malagò, Fabbricini e Bianchedi have achieved a civic event of great significance. In the five seminars they have summarised the issues affecting sport, there was a high degree of difficulty and a quality of speakers that have allowed us to develop debates of the highest quality. Mr Malagò did not only address sport people but projected sport in its social context, every session was aimed at this. Sport is not only a beautiful thing, it is much more than this: it is one of the elements that can make a difference, that could drag the country forward because it has the dynamic ability to put itself forward as a model. It shows the right path to recovery. Mr Malagò reminded us that there is no mention of sport in our Constitutions but he also added that there is no mention of school in the CONI Statute. Institutions must be made aware of how to value sport. For this, reforms are so important. The example of the value of sport, as General Gallitelli reminded us, is decisive. Autonomy is sacrosanct, but it must be defended by politics itself, and it essential that it is central to our intentions more than in our written rules. All reflections have a value that surpasses this horizon and must be a cause of institutional reflection for the proposals put forward. A strong reminder of the value of sport in the context of a community”. 

Gli azzurri per gli Europei di Baku

È tempo di Campionato europei di Tiro a Volo. E' tutto pronto a Baku, la capitale dell’Azerbaijan che ospita quest’anno la rassegna continentale. Da martedì sono sulle rive del Mar Caspio gli specialisti del Double Trap guidati dal Dt Mirco Cenci.

Domenica saranno proprio gli specialisti del “doppietto” a inaugurare ufficialmente la sequenza delle finali: la “corazzata” Italia si presenta con tre titolari notissimi come Marco Innocenti,  Daniele Di Spigno e Nino Barillà. Tra gli Juniores sono stati invece convocati Eraldo Apolloni, Jacopo Duprè de Foresta e Nicolò Liceti. L’Italia è presente anche nella sfida al femminile: saranno la capitana Monica Girotto e le “deb” Sofia Maglio e Claudia De Luca a difendere il tricolore. Giornata indiscutibilmente mesta quella inaugurale all’insegna del Double Trap, perché questa sfida coinciderà anche con l’ammainabandiera ufficiale della disciplina in sede di Campionato europeo dal momento che la specialità con questa stagione esce dal novero di quelle olimpiche.

Nelle giornate successive sarà la volta del Trap il cui arrivo a Baku è previsto per le ore 21 di oggi. Il Dt Albano Pera ha convocato Giovanni Pellielo, Mauro De Filippis e Daniele Resca: non c’è Massimo Fabbrizi a difendere il titolo continentale conquistato un anno fa a Lonato poiché le norme di qualificazione fissate dal coach toscano in vista della sfida continentale hanno escluso il fuoriclasse di San Benedetto del Tronto. Frizzante il team femminile con Jessica Rossi a fare da capitana ad una formazione completata dalle giovanissime Alessia Iezzi e Maria Lucia Palmitessa. È “corazzata” Italia anche nello Skeet: Andrea Benelli ha scelto il campione uscente Riccardo Filippelli e ha affiancato al toscano nella prima squadra Tammaro Cassandro e l’olimpionico di Rio Gabriele Rossetti. A Katiuscia Spada, all’olimpionica di Rio Diana Bacosi e a Simona Scocchetti è affidato il compito di difendere il tricolore nella gara in rosa: non c’è ovviamente la campionessa europea Chiara Cainero che è in dolce attesa di Agata che nascerà a settembre. Fortissimi anche gli azzurrini chiamati in Azerbaijan da Benelli: sono Valerio Palmucci, Erik Pittini e Elia Sdruccioli sul versante maschile e Francesca Del Prete, Giada Longhi e Giulia Basso sul versante femminile.

World League, il Setterosa torna protagonista dopo l'argento di Rio. Domani a Firenze sfida alla Francia

Il Setterosa apre un nuovo ciclo. Il quadriennio olimpico che porta a Tokyo 2020 inizia a Firenze, martedì 22 novembre alle 20.15 con la Francia, nella partita inaugurale della fase preliminare della World League 2016/2017 di pallanuoto. Oggi doppio appuntamento a Palazzo Vecchio. Prima la presentazione ufficiale alla Sala Macconi, nel primo pomeriggio la cerimonia di premiazione nella Sala dei Dugento, dove il sindaco Dario Nardella e l'Assessore allo Sport Andrea Vannucci hanno consegnato le pergamene di benemerenza alle azzurre e al loro ct. "Voglio innanzi tutto ringraziare gli organizzatori e la Federazione - ha detto Fabio Conti - che ci danno l'opportunità di iniziare la nuova stagione in una piscina storica come la Nannini e in una città prestigiosa dove si respira l'amore per la pallanuoto. Anche quest'anno ripartitamo con la World League e lo facciamo con l'entusiasmo, il sorriso e il sudore che finora ci hanno contraddistinto. La medaglia d'argento di Rio è alle spalle; sarà un ricordo indelebile per ciascuno di noi ma dovrà darci allo stesso tempo più forza per migliorarci e lavorare duro. Perchè vogliamo crescere ancora e raggiungere nuovi obiettivi. Ogni partita sarà un banco di prova, ogni torneo l'occasione per confrontarci con noi stessi e i nostri avversari. A cominciare dalla partita di domani con la Francia che, se è vero che finora l'abbiamo sempre battuta, è anche vero che si presenta con un nuovo allenatore, Florian Bruzzo, che precedentemente allenava la squadra maschile".

Quella di domani rappresenta la prima uscita ufficiale del Setterosa vice campione olimpico, il primo appuntamento dopo la conquista della medaglia d’argento ai Giochi di Rio de Janeiro che ha riportato la Nazionale femminile sul podio 12 anni dopo l’oro di Atene 2004. “Dichiaro chiusi i festeggiamenti”, aveva detto il Presidente della FIN Paolo Barelli il 12 ottobre in occasione della presentazione dei campionati di serie A1, “da oggi si guarda avanti”. E’ la legge dello sport, il bello dello sport, che dopo un successo, così come dopo una sconfitta, si pone subito un nuovo obiettivo. Quello del Setterosa è salire anche l’ultimo gradino “dell’Olimpo” e arrivarci per gradi, passando per i prossimi campionati del mondo, per i campionati europei ed anche per la World League, dove da due anni manca una medaglia. L’ultima è stata l'argento del 2014 a Kunshan (circa 70 chilometri da Shanghai) e anche allora finalissima con gli USA.

Per la prima del Setterosa (foto FIN-G.Scala/Deepbluemedia.eu) alla piscina comunale Nannini non potevano mancare le telecamere di Rai Sport 1 che trasmetteranno in HD partita, pre-partita e interviste rigorosamente in diretta.  Il biglietto d’ingresso è di 10,00 euro e l’incasso verrà devoluto in beneficenza alla Caritas di Rieti, a sostegno delle popolazioni del Centro Italia colpite dal terremoto.