IOC President Thomas Bach visits the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Centre, then meets sports leaders and Minister of the Economy Giorgetti
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, visited the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Centre this morning. After his meeting at the Quirinal Palace with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the head of the global sporting movement, accompanied by CONI President Giovanni Malagò, visited the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science. Guided by Medical Director Professor Andrea Ferretti, Head of the Olympic Area Dr Maria Rosaria Squeo, and Giampiero Pastore, Head of the Institute, he expressed his appreciation for the facility, which serves as the national reference point for all Italian Olympic athletes.
In the physio room, the IOC President greeted Italia Team athletes engaged in their respective rehabilitation programmes: Chiara Mormile (fencing), Giulia Imperio (weightlifting) and Lorenzo Simonelli (athletics). He then met Simone Alessio, the Olympic bronze medallist in taekwondo from Paris 2024.
Bach, together with Malagò, then moved on to the Sports High School of the Convitto Nazionale “Vittorio Emanuele II”, located within the Olympic Preparation Centre, where he greeted students from various classes, including Matteo Santoro, a national team diving athlete.
Later, the IOC President visited the centre’s new multi-purpose sports hall, where he met Italrugby coach Gonzalo Quesada, currently in training with the National Team ahead of the Six Nations. In the sports hall, Bach also spoke with staff from the CONI Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, wishing them good luck for Milano Cortina 2026.
In the centre’s lounge, after greeting Vito Dell’Aquila, the Olympic taekwondo champion from Tokyo 2020, Bach met with Italian executives holding senior international roles. The IOC President was welcomed on his arrival by the Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati, and Vice-Presidents Silvia Salis and Claudia Giordani. The lunch was also attended by IOC member Ivo Ferriani, former CONI Presidents and IOC honorary members Franco Carraro and Mario Pescante, European Olympic Committees Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, Milano Cortina 2026 CEO Andrea Varnier, Chief Strategy Planning Legacy Officer Diana Bianchedi, City Operations Manager Antonio Rossi, and several International Federation Presidents. Among those present were Professor Fabio Pigozzi, President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine; former President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations Francesco Ricci Bitti; Raffaele Chiulli, President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations; and Presidents of International Federations Sabatino Aracu (roller sports), Luigi Carraro (padel), Luciano Rossi (shooting), Marco Scolaris (sport climbing), and Massimo Sertori, Lombardy Region Councillor for Local Authorities, Mountains, Energy Resources, and Water Resource Use.
Il Presidente CIO Thomas Bach visita il CPO Onesti, poi incontro con dirigenti sportivi italiani
