Circolo Nautico Posillipo celebrates Centenary and Collare d'Oro. Buonfiglio: “It has contributed to Naples’ growth”

CONI

09 July 2025

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A special honour marked a grand evening celebrating a club that has made — and continues to make — history in Italian sport.

Luciano Buonfiglio, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), attended the gala evening commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Circolo Nautico Posillipo, founded in Naples on 9 July 1925. Over the years, the club has excelled across a range of disciplines, including canoeing, rowing, swimming, fencing, tennis, triathlon, sailing, and above all, water polo. In the latter, Posillipo boasts a remarkable trophy haul: eleven national titles, three Champions Leagues, and two Coppa delle Coppe. This year, the club has returned to European competition under the expert leadership of coach Pino Porzio, who was inducted into the Walk of Fame at Foro Italico this May alongside his brother Franco, both of whom wore the club’s iconic red and green cap during their playing days.

The evening also paid tribute to two historic milestones: the 40th anniversary of the club’s first national title (1985) and the 20th anniversary of its last Champions League triumph (2005).

“When a sports club turns 100, it means it has helped shape the growth of an entire city,” Buonfiglio remarked. “This is a club that produces not only medals but also social value. It shapes young women and men to grow with respect for others, to be committed, to know what they want to achieve and to work as a team. A club like Posillipo has produced thousands of remarkable individuals”. Buonfiglio, himself a former canoeing international, first discovered sport at the historic Neapolitan club.

Among those attending the celebration were Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples; Roberto Fico, former President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies; Aldo Campagnola, President of Circolo Nautico Posillipo; Vice Presidents Maurizio Marinella and Filippo Smaldone; members of the club’s Board of Directors; numerous olympic and world champions; and prominent figures from the world of sport. These included Giovanni Malagò, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, IOC member and former CONI President; Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth; Paolo Barelli, President of the Italian Swimming Federation; Davide Tizzano, President of the Italian Rowing Federation; Andrea Mancino, President of the Italian Federation for Billiards and Bowling; CONI board members Sandro Cuomo and Luca Piscopo, and many other sporting greats with deep ties to the Posillipo club.

The evening was also the occasion to unveil the Collare d’Oro al Merito Sportivo (Gold Collar of Sporting Merit), Italy’s highest sporting honour, which will be formally awarded to the Circolo Nautico Posillipo this December during the traditional ceremony held annually in Rome.