CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio today met Italy’s national athletics team, who are attending a training camp at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Training Centre at Acqua Acetosa ahead of the forthcoming European Championships in Birmingham and the Mediterranean Games in Taranto.

After greeting the athletes individually, Buonfiglio addressed the team and offered his encouragement, highlighting the importance of the results achieved in recent years.

“I spoke to President Stefano Mei and told him that I would be coming to see you to express CONI’s support and closeness ahead of the events awaiting you. You have shown that you are among the strongest national teams at international level and I am certain that you will give everything to make us proud of you once again, also on behalf of those who were not selected.”

Buonfiglio was welcomed by Deputy Technical Director Roberto Pericoli, sprinting head Filippo Di Mulo, Head of the Technical Department Riccardo Ingallina and Deputy Federal Doctor Dino Petrucci. He was presented with a competition vest signed by the Italian athletes.

The shirt was handed to him by Olympic champion Filippo Tortu, who was named yesterday as one of Italy’s flagbearers for Taranto 2026 alongside boxer Irma Testa.

The national team will compete at the European Championships from 10 to 16 August with its largest-ever squad: 132 athletes, comprising 70 men and 62 women. It will then compete at the Mediterranean Games from 30 August to 3 September.