CONI lands at EXPO 2025, showcasing Italian sporting excellence to the world

CONI takes centre stage at the Italian Pavilion of EXPO 2025. Thanks to an agreement with the General Commission for Italy’s participation in EXPO 2025 Osaka, the Italian National Olympic Committee will be present from 26 April to 4 May with a multidisciplinary programme combining play, education and sporting culture as part of the theme week dedicated to sport, entitled Co-creating Culture for Future, which coincides with Japan’s “Golden Week”.
With ‘It’s not just a game, it’s sport’, CONI, through its Territorial Directorate, presents its own approach to sports guidance and initiation to the public of the Universal Exhibition, via the CONI Fair Play Games, which follow the IOC’s OVEP – Olympic Values Education Programme.
The multidisciplinary activities, which began on 26 April in the area in front of the Italian Pavilion, offer a unique opportunity to promote Made in Italy through Italy’s sporting excellence. The CONI initiative has been met with great enthusiasm and participation from very many young people and their families during the hours dedicated to sporting activities. Young visitors also had the opportunity to meet Italia Team ambassador and Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, Luigi Busà.
The Azzurro karateka took part yesterday, alongside Cecilia D’Angelo, CONI Territorial Director, in the event L’Italia che non hai (ancora) visto (The Italy you haven’t seen (yet)), which marked the start of the week dedicated to the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Also taking part were Mario Vattani, General Commissioner for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, Filippo Manara, Consul General of Italy in Japan, Massimiliano Fedriga, President of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and the regional councillor for production and tourism, Sergio Emidio Bini.
Busà emphasised the importance of sport not only in shaping future champions, but also in helping to develop better women and men.
The Sicilian karateka also launched the Trofeo CONI 2025, which, in its tenth summer edition, will return, ten years later, to Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in Lignano Sabbiadoro, which will also host the EYOF 2027.
Cecilia D’Angelo, for her part, highlighted the importance of sporting events such as the Trofeo CONI, scheduled to take place from 28 September to 1 October 2025 in Lignano Sabbiadoro, in supporting local development and boosting tourism.
“Beyond its sporting and educational value, the Trofeo CONI is also an important resource for the area that hosts it,” she said. “The event helps create a positive legacy in terms of socio-economic impact, involving local industries and supporting tourism during the low season.” “Events such as this one allow regions to tell their story and showcase themselves, promoting their natural, cultural and human identity,” she added, also recalling the upcoming edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which in 2027 will return to Friuli-Venezia Giulia after 22 years. “For this tourist destination in Friuli, it will be both a great challenge and a major opportunity to host such a significant event dedicated to young athletes from all over Europe”.
Il CONI in vetrina al Padiglione Italia dell'EXPO Osaka 2025





