The podiums of Milano Cortina 2026: symbols of design, inclusion and sustainability
- UNVEILED IN MILAN
There are exactly one hundred days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. During the event, Raffaella Paniè, Director of Brand Identity and Look of the Games at Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, and Fabio Coppola, Head of Olympics and Paralympics Italy at Procter & Gamble (P&G), unveiled the official podiums for Milano Cortina 2026.
Created by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 in collaboration with the Cavaletti + Pagliariccio studio, the podiums combine contemporary design with Italian craftsmanship, embodying the identity of this edition through colour gradients and shades that highlight its dynamism and visual identity.
The project stands out for a number of key features, simplicity, modularity, uniqueness and dynamism, guiding principles that have inspired not only the design of the podiums, but the entire system of objects and sets created for the Victory Ceremonies. Crafted from wood and metal, the podiums are designed to adapt to different disciplines, both individual and team events, with the capacity to accommodate up to ten athletes per medal. They are fully accessible, featuring ramps and anti-fall curbs, to meet the needs of Paralympic athletes.
Furthermore, as part of the ‘Campioni Ogni Giorno’ (Champions Every Day) initiative, P&G, global sponsor of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), together with Esselunga and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, will commit to giving the podiums a second life. At the end of Esselunga's Amici di Scuola e dello Sport (Friends of School and Sport) campaign, amateur sports clubs that promote inclusive sporting activities will be selected and assigned an official podium, with the aim of allocating at least one to each of the regions where Esselunga operates.
Institute of Sports Medicine and Science plays leading role at the 22nd National Congress of the Italian Society of Sports Cardiology
- IMSS CONI
The Institute of Sports Medicine and Science (IMSS) of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) took part in the 22nd National Congress of the Italian Society of Sports Cardiology (SIC Sport), held in Carpi from 9 to 11 October, reaffirming its standing as a key reference point for research and prevention in the fields of cardiology and sports medicine.
Invited by the outgoing President of SIC Sport, Professor Giampiero Patrizi, the Institute contributed to the scientific programme with a series of presentations on highly topical subjects, coordinated by Giampiero Pastore, Head of the IMSS.
During the congress, Dr Maria Rosaria Squeo, Medical Director of the Olympic Area, outlined the medical screening model applied to Olympic and Paralympic athletes, highlighting the functional assessment procedures adopted by CONI in preparation for major international competitions.
Dr Giuseppe Di Gioia presented a noteworthy clinical case concerning the management of an athlete in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, stressing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach integrating sports medicine, cardiology and performance science.
Dr Federica Mango presented the results of a study on training-induced ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac remodelling in elite athletes — a research project soon to be published in an international scientific journal, offering new insights into the understanding of cardiac adaptation to high-level exercise.
Later, Professor Viviana Maestrini explored the latest cardiac MRI techniques and their application in the clinical assessment of athletes, providing an overview of increasingly precise diagnostic tools available to sports cardiologists.
Completing the Institute’s contribution, Professor Antonio Pelliccia chaired a session comparing pre-participation screening models in Italy and the United Kingdom, fostering an international debate on methodologies, protocols and safety standards for competitive sport.
The participation of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Science of CONI in the Carpi Congress marked a significant moment of scientific exchange and professional development, confirming the Institute’s ongoing commitment to promoting health, prevention, and performance among Italian athletes.
Mattarella pays tribute to Italy’s volleyball world champions: “The nation is grateful to you”
- AT THE QUIRINALE
The Italian men’s and women’s national volleyball teams were received this afternoon at the Quirinale Palace by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, to celebrate their triumphs at the 2025 World Championships. Among those present were the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi; the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, together with General Secretary Carlo Mornati; the President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Giuseppe Manfredi; head coaches Ferdinando De Giorgi and Julio Velasco; and all the world-champion players.
Team captain Anna Danesi and vice-captain Simone Anzani presented the Head of State with the two national team shirts, a signed volleyball, the two gold medals and a tie (photo: Ferdinando Mezzelani/CONI).
“You have been truly extraordinary. The whole country followed you and is grateful,” said President Mattarella, visibly moved. “The finals were thrilling. I wish to thank the two coaches, Velasco and De Giorgi, whose calm advice during the most heated moments was admirable. I applauded Velasco the other day when he criticised my generation—and the next—for always judging young people: I completely agree. A remarkable generation is emerging. One of your greatest rewards is having inspired so many young people to take up sport. That is a valuable contribution to our nation and adds meaning to your victories”.
“In just one hundred days, this is the third time I’ve been here at the Quirinale,” observed Buonfiglio. “The emotion never changes. If it’s not a record, it’s very close to one—and we will keep working to come back again. Volleyball has achieved something extraordinary for Italian sport; it is a model to study. I feel both the duty and the pleasure of saluting our two coaches—their task has not been easy. Thank you, President Mattarella, for your attention and affection. We know how passionately you follow major sporting events; we consider you one of us. We’ll make sure the Italian anthem continues to play in winter, just as it did in summer”.
“Thank you, Mr President, for welcoming us,” said Manfredi. “These two teams have written an indelible page in the history of Italian sport. Their results fill us with pride and are the outcome of collective work. Volleyball is the sport of families, a healthy movement that grows in school gyms and provincial clubs. We have a duty to help it grow further. Success is not measured only in medals, but in what we leave to future generations. Children must have the opportunity to discover the beauty of volleyball—and of sport in general”.
“At a time when divisions are widespread, sport can help foster a democratic culture—one that accepts differing ideas and embraces diversity,” explained Velasco. “Our women’s national team is a model to admire: it brings together players from many different backgrounds—from Nigeria to Ivory Coast, Germany to Russia—and they manage to win together without giving up their individual identities”.
“You, Mr President, are our motivator,” said De Giorgi, addressing Mattarella. “You give us our first push. These players aren’t perfect, but they’re special because they include everyone, leaving no one behind, and they’ve formed a united team. This is a historic day. This victory reflects the immense value of our Italy and the moral strength of our national side”.
In her remarks, Anna Danesi recalled “the figures that tell our story—36 consecutive victories. But numbers don’t say everything,” stressed the Italian captain. “They don’t tell of the injuries, the sacrifices, the farewells, the long waits: that’s where victories are built. We are a group united in our diversity—and that is our greatest achievement”.
“Thank you for choosing to celebrate our victories,” said Simone Anzani to the Head of State. “It’s never easy to repeat success, yet we’ve managed it. This victory is proof of what can be achieved through unity and a spirit of sacrifice”.
Mattarella riceve Nazionali volley femminile e maschile vincitrici dei Mondiali
Buonfiglio and Mornati meet IOC President in Lausanne: “Reaffirmed CONI’s central role, now we await Coventry in Rome”
- CONI
The President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio, met this afternoon in Lausanne with the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. Buonfiglio was accompanied by General Secretary Carlo Mornati, while IOC Honour Member Francesco Ricci Bitti also attended the meeting.
During the talks (photo credit: Greg Martin/IOC), which lasted around an hour, several sporting matters were addressed, beginning with the forthcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Buonfiglio and Coventry reflected on their recent exchanges with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with both expressing great satisfaction with the dialogue. Discussion also focused on the governance of the 2028 Youth Olympic Games in Dolomiti Valtellina, as well as CONI’s development programmes for the Olympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028.
Coventry welcomed the fact that both the CONI President and Secretary General are former Olympians (Mornati also won a silver medal at Sydney 2000, the edition where Coventry made her debut as a 17-year-old). She presented both men with the “Olympian” certificate, personally signed by her, and voiced appreciation for the continuity of CONI’s operational structure, remarking: “We have always worked well together and built a strong understanding”.
Buonfiglio and Mornati extended an invitation to the IOC President to visit Rome, where she will be hosted at CONI’s Olympic Preparation Centre “Giulio Onesti” and at Casa Italia during Milano Cortina 2026.
Earlier in the day, CONI’s leadership also held operational meetings with James McLeod, Director of the IOC’s NOC Relations Department, who also oversees Olympic Solidarity and the Olympism365 project, joined by Jerome Poivey and Nils Holmegaard.
Commenting after the meeting, Buonfiglio said: “I am very pleased with this day at the IOC headquarters. You can truly breathe the Olympic spirit here. This visit had been scheduled for some time, dating back to August when our agendas aligned. President Coventry struck me as determined and motivated. We reaffirmed to her CONI’s central role in sports policy and in relations with the Government. On Milano Cortina 2026 she has clear ideas and appreciates the financial commitment made by the Italian Executive. I look forward to welcoming her to Rome by the end of the year so that we can return the hospitality at our Olympic Preparation Centre – a facility admired and praised worldwide”.
Mornati added: “We are in constant contact with the IOC offices. Dialogue with James McLeod and his team is always steady. We have important projects to pursue with the IOC in the coming months. We are truly grateful for the way we were welcomed. CONI has always been a point of reference for the Olympic Movement, and today we received further confirmation of this”.
Buonfiglio e Mornati a Losanna, incontro con vertici CIO
Lombardy shines in Lignano Sabbiadoro, claims tenth edition of Trofeo CONI
- FOR THE SECOND TIME
Lombardy has emerged as the winner of the tenth edition of the Trofeo CONI, which concluded today in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Friuli Venezia Giulia. Under the leadership of Marco Riva, CONI Lombardia topped the standings with 116 points, ahead of Piedmont (111) and Apulia (110).
The Olympic Region of Lombardy – host of the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games – returns to victory in Italy’s most important multi-sport event for under-14 athletes, eight years on from its last triumph in Senigallia (2017).
Not even the bad weather could spoil the celebration for the record-breaking 4,600 participants, who gathered in Friuli Venezia Giulia to compete across 44 sports.
As a result, the party shifted from Lignano’s golden beach to the Bella Italia Village Sports Hall, which hosted much of the competition. The winning Committee was announced by CONI’s Head of Territorial Affairs, Cecilia D’Angelo, on stage alongside Andrea Marcon, President of CONI Friuli Venezia Giulia and organiser of the “mini Olympics”, returning to Lignano a decade after the last edition.
“I have the great fortune of knowing how to choose my collaborators, and they were outstanding in ensuring the success of the event. I will carry your smiles with me: you are wonderful, and I am glad you will go home happy after this extraordinary experience” said President Marcon.
Mayor Laura Giorgi added: “We were ready, this was a true team effort – from CONI to local and regional institutions, as well as the volunteers and the entire organisational machine. I know you all worked hard and diligently, making things easier. I hope this is an edition you will carry in your hearts”.
Cecilia D’Angelo also expressed gratitude: “Thank you to everyone, and thank you to Friuli Venezia Giulia for hosting us. Everything was perfect – congratulations to President Marcon and his staff for allowing us to enjoy three fantastic days. I hope some of you will one day climb an Olympic podium, hear the Italian anthem, and watch the tricolour fly. This must be a journey of growth, without forgetting that fun is the essence of sport – it means sharing and reciprocity. Thank you to my colleagues, the volunteers, and all those who contributed to the success of this event”.
The Fair Play Awards, dedicated to the memory of sports administrator Gianni Gallo, were presented by Olympic fencing champion Mara Navarria: “The male award goes to Riccardo Turbino, an archer from Emilia Romagna, who showed great teamwork, stepping in for his teammate by lending her his bow. For the first time, the female award is given not to an individual but to a team – the women’s rugby squad from Tuscany, who embody the spirit of sport by giving their all in any circumstance”. (photo credit: Simone Ferraro & Roberto Di Tondo/CONI)
The Summer Trofeo CONI – which had been officially opened by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio at Stadio Teghil on Sunday evening – closes with an extremely positive balance sheet: record numbers of participants, record viewership for the opening ceremony broadcast on Italia Team TV, and record smiles from the boys and girls who came from across Italy and Italian communities abroad in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Venezuela. Thanks to the “Tourism of Roots” project supported by the PNRR, these young athletes also had the chance to discover Friuli Venezia Giulia through cultural and territorial visits, reinforcing ties with their origins.
The 2025 edition also stood out as the most sustainable in the event’s history, thanks to measures aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, in line with the biennial protocol signed between CONI and the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
A great celebration of sport and values – faithful to the identity that has defined this multidisciplinary youth festival since 2014. A chance to dream, to enjoy, and to imagine a future under the spell of the Olympic Rings.
Cerimonia di chiusura Trofeo CONI 2025
President Buonfiglio received by Prime Minister Meloni. President of the Council invited to the 2025 Collari d'Oro ceremony
- AT PALAZZO CHIGI
This morning at Palazzo Chigi, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, received CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio in the presence of the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi. This was the first meeting since Buonfiglio’s election on 26 June. During the discussion, conducted in a very cordial atmosphere, several current topics were addressed, including the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina, the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto and the 2028 Youth Olympic Games in Dolomiti-Valtellina.
Buonfiglio also presented to President Meloni the guiding principles of his programme for the next four years for CONI, emphasising the broadest possible collaboration with the Government and the Ministries. Finally, Buonfiglio invited the President of the Council to the Collari d'Oro ceremony scheduled for 3 November in Rome at the Casa delle Armi at the Foro Italico, during which the 2025 World Champions of all Olympic and Paralympic disciplines will be honoured.
Buonfiglio ricevuto dal Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni
The President Buonfiglio met with the CIE delegates and took part in the conference of Presidents of CONI’s Regional Committees
- AT LIGNANO SABBIADORO
Today, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio met with the delegates of the Italian Communities Abroad (CIE) and with the Presidents of the Regional Committees, who had gathered in Lignano Sabbiadoro for the tenth edition of the CONI Summer Trophy, which begins this evening.
This year too, among the 4,600 participants there will be young athletes from Italian communities in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Venezuela. In Italy, thanks to the “Tourism of Roots” project, supported by the PNRR, the youngsters will have the opportunity to discover Friuli Venezia Giulia, strengthening their ties to their origins through a programme of cultural and territorial visits. The delegates present include Pablo Hugo Squillari (Argentina), Francesco Giacobbe (Australia), Alfredo Apicella (Brazil), Mico Licastro (United States), and Nello Collevecchio (Venezuela).
Afterwards, President Buonfiglio took part in the Conference of the Presidents of CONI’s Regional Committees, to address various issues related to the Committee’s regional infrastructure.
During the meeting, topics of broad interest were discussed, with the aim of developing the organisation’s programme guidelines on the territory in a harmonious and effective manner. The President opened the session by emphasising the value of ongoing dialogues with institutional representatives of the Executive and with the leadership of Sport e Salute, with a view to a synergistic collaboration aimed at recognising and protecting the role and know-how of CONI, safeguarding and enhancing its identity through the commitment guaranteed by its various local branches.
Buonfiglio, together with Marco Riva (member of the board and President of the Lombardy Regional Committee) and Cecilia D’Angelo (Territory Director), reiterated the importance of establishing a permanent working group to examine the various issues affecting the Committees.
It was also emphasised that the offices of the provincial CONI Committees, which are fundamental for the development of promotional strategies, will be preserved, thereby valuing the widespread presence of these structures. During the debate, the various roles in school-based projects were discussed, reaffirming the worth of the CONI Trophy model, pending evaluation of future prospects in light of the Youth Games.
Attention was also given to sporting infrastructure, to staffing and requalification of the personnel, and finally to the crucial role played by the Committees in seeking future sponsorship and in training, through regional sports schools.
At the close of the meeting, President Buonfiglio underscored the importance of dialogue. “I am proud to have participated in the Conference of the Presidents of CONI’s Regional Committees. We are engaging with a very positive situation, which will see us working together with Sport e Salute to find the best solutions for the territory, with the aim of giving due dignity to the image of CONI and of Sport e Salute. This is not a journey that will be completed soon, but that is the goal”.
Il Presidente Buonfiglio incontra a Lignano i delegati CIE e i Presidenti dei CONI Regionali
President Mattarella congratulates Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup winners
- TENNIS
Italian President Sergio Mattarella contacted CONI chief Luciano Buonfiglio to pass on his congratulations to the women’s national tennis team after their second consecutive Triumph in the Billie Jean King Cup.
“Congratulations and best wishes to the athletes for this prestigious success,” the Head of State said.
Trofeo CONI returns on 28 September: record edition in Lignano Sabbiadoro with 4,600 participants
- IN FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Lignano Sabbiadoro and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region are preparing to celebrate the 2025 edition of the Trofeo CONI — Italy’s largest sporting event for under-14s, promoted by the Italian National Olympic Committee in partnership with organised sport.
From 28 September to 1 October, Italy’s premier Adriatic resort will host a record 4,600 athletes and coaches from every region of the country, for four days of competition, friendship and fair play.
This year’s programme features 44 disciplines, including the debut of sanda under the Italian Wushu Kung-Fu Federation, with twirling on show as a demonstration sport. Emilia Romagna are the defending champions after lifting the trophy in Sicily in 2024.
It will be the second time Friuli Venezia Giulia has staged the summer Trofeo CONI — 10 years on from the 2015 edition — underlining the region’s ability to host major events. The opening ceremony takes place at the Stadio Teghil in Lignano Sabbiadoro on Sunday 28 September, with delegations parading and the symbolic Olympic flame being lit. Competitions follow on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30, with the closing ceremony set for the beach.
Events will be spread across the region: bowling in Portogruaro, sport climbing in Basaldella, shooting in Porpetto, roller skating in Cervignano del Friuli and artistic gymnastics in Latisana, with athletes housed in local accommodation facilities.
Thanks to the “Turismo delle Radici” project under Italy’s National Recovery Plan, young athletes from Italian communities in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Venezuela will also take part, combining competition with a journey to rediscover their heritage. Sustainability is another focus, with initiatives aligned to the UN’s 2030 Agenda through a protocol between CONI and the Ministry for the Environment.
CONI Friuli Venezia Giulia president Andrea Marcon said: “We believe in sport as an educational and inclusive tool. Our young people deserve occasions like this to test themselves and learn while having fun. I’m sure we adults will learn much from them too.”
CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio added: “This is my first Trofeo CONI as President, and I will attend the opening ceremony with great emotion. This event gives thousands of young people the chance to meet and grow through sport, and I am certain it will inspire many to dream of the Olympic Games.”
Regional president Massimiliano Fedriga underlined the wider significance: “The record 4,600 participants confirm our region’s appeal and organisational ability. Sport here is not only competition but a vehicle of growth, friendship, inclusion and cultural promotion.”
The Trofeo CONI 2025 will be streamed live on ItaliaTeamTV, CONI’s OTT platform, beginning with the opening ceremony.
President Mattarella hosts Italy’s women’s and U20 men’s teams: “Success achieved with determination and against prejudice”
- BASKETBALL
President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella welcomed Italy’s women’s basketball team — bronze medallists at the European Championships in Greece — and the men’s U20 side, fresh from winning gold at the European Championships in Crete, to the Quirinale’s Sala degli Specchi this afternoon.
Among those present were Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Italian Basketball Federation chief Giovanni Petrucci, and coaches Andrea Capobianco and Alessandro Rossi, along with players from both squads. Mattarella was presented with a golden basketball and a national team jersey bearing the No.1 (photo: ANSA).
“You were outstanding” Mattarella told the women’s team. “Congratulations. That bronze is the equivalent of gold: if you had beaten Belgium in the semi-final, nobody would have been surprised. You achieved something of real significance, inspiring young girls to take up basketball and other sports — removing prejudice and doing so with determination”.
Turning to the U20 men’s side, the President added: “Well done, you have given us certainty about the future of Italian basketball, and that is very important”. He also addressed racist comments made on the team’s social media accounts: “These miserable expressions of incivility do not unsettle us — they underline instead the importance of inclusion and of being together”.
Buonfiglio praised both teams: “You made us dream by reaching the top. We must never tire of being ambitious because our country deserves it. Winning in basketball is not easy, it is a global sport with the highest professionalism in the United States. To the women I say: we expect to see you at the Olympics. To the young men: join the senior team as soon as possible. Italy is condemned to win. And to President Mattarella: thank you, on behalf of Italian sport, for your affection and closeness. We are always grateful”.
Petrucci closed by recalling: “In my long career I met Presidents Ciampi and Napolitano — only you were missing. Thanks to these incredible teams I have fulfilled that dream. We achieved results once thought impossible, while also sending a message of inclusion. President Mattarella, please come to watch a game: it would be the first time for basketball, and for us it would be a great honour”.
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