“Incredible is not impossible. Fire on the Ice”, is the claim in Bolzano for PyeongChang 2018

At the end of the presentation of the Olympic Club and CONI initiatives for the next Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang 2018, held at Museion - Museum of modern and contemporary art- in Bolzano, Italian athletes Peter Fill and Sofia Goggia expressed the ambition and hope of the Italia Team and claimed “Incredible is not impossible. Fire on the Ice”: this is the slogan chosen for the Italia Team on their way to the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. A claim that we hope brings the same luck as “We are ready to fly. You cannot chase dreams with your feet on the ground”, that set the pace of the victories of the Italia Team at the Summer Olympics in Rio 2016.

Letter from the IOC President Thomas Bach to Giovanni Malagò

This is the text of the letter that the IOC President Thomas Bach sent to the CONI President Giovanni Malagò:

Dear President,

Dear friend Giovanni,

Thank you for your letter dated 11 October 2016.

The IOC has taken note of the withdrawal of the Candidature of Rome for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, following the vote of the City Council. Based on the information we have received over the last few days, it has been clearly demonstrated that the City Council’s decision was politically motivated for reasons beyond the Olympic project.

The IOC is fully aware that this was a very difficult decision for CONI to take, enjoying support for the candidature from all other levels of Government and the people of Rome and Italy.

I would like to thank CONI and the Candidature Committee for their outstanding work which resulted in an excellent project for a sustainable, feasible and transparent candidature in the line with Olympic Agenda 2020. There is no doubt that this project would have left a positive and sustainable legacy for the City of Rome and the Lazio Region, to which the IOC would have contributed with an investment of about USD 1.7 billion.

May I also kindly ask you to convey the IOC’s thanks to the Government of Italy, the Regional Government and Regional Council of Lazio and all Italians, who have supported this candidature so much.

Please rest assured that the excellent relations between the IOC and CONI will not be affected by this decision. We will continue to work closely with CONI to promote and develop Olympic sport in Italy.

Wishing you and all the members of your teams in CONI and the Candidature Committee the very best for a successful future, I remain

With kind regards,

Thomas Bach

Olympic Channel to launch on 21 August 2016

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the launch date for its ground-breaking new media destination, the Olympic Channel, where fans can experience the power of sport and the Olympic Movement all year round. Starting Sunday 21 August, after the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the Olympic Channel platform will be available worldwide via a mobile app for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com. 

In addition, athletes and fans can follow the Olympic Channel on its newly launched social media handles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, and sign up for Olympic Channel updates at olympicchannel.com. 

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The launch of the Olympic Channel on 21st August is the start of an exciting new journey to connect the worldwide audience with the Olympic Movement all year round. Fans will be able to follow sports, athletes and the stories behind the Olympic Games. The Olympic Channel will inspire us all and reach out to new generations of athletes and fans.”

With the goal of providing a new way to engage young people, fans and new audiences in the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Channel is a free platform that will present original programming, live sports events, news and highlights offering additional exposure for sports and athletes all year round. Olympic Channel original programming will include both short-form and long-form content, focusing on elite athletes, their quest for success and sport around the world.  

Designed for a global audience, the Olympic Channel digital platform will showcase content from around the world, and will initially be offered in English. Additional features at launch will include fantastic content as video on demand, as well as individual sport pages within a user-friendly and mobile-responsive interface, subtitled in nine different languages.

The Olympic Channel includes an option to register for a richer and more personalised experience, where users can follow their favourite athletes, teams, sports and countries to receive an individually-tailored content selection. The dynamic environment also allows videos to be easily shared across social media, and encourages users to regularly interact with the Olympic Movement.

After the launch of the global digital product in August, the Olympic Channel intends to foster partnerships with other Olympic stakeholders, including rights-holding broadcasters and National Olympic Committees to develop localised versions of the Olympic Channel. Localised versions will offer language-specific user experiences on digital platforms, and will also include linear television programming options.

Olympic athletes from Rome received in Campidiglio on the eve of the Games

In Campidoglio this afternoon, CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) President Giovanni Malagò, together with the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini, accompanied a delegation of roman athletes who qualified for the Olympic Games. The Azzurri team had been invited by the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi and the Deputy Mayor, with the Minister for Sports, Daniele Frongia, who hosted the representatives departing for Rio, at the Municipality. Frongia, who together with the Mayor are involved in other Institutional Fronts, pointed out that: "As a former athlete, I recall these initiatives within the institutions as somewhat boring. But we want to emphasize that Campidoglio represents the community at large. And the whole of Rome is with you, proud of you. Thank you and good luck." The ceremony was attended by the following athletes: Claudia Cesarini, Riccardo De Luca and Pierpaolo Petroni (Modern Pentathlon), Marco De Luca, Sonia Malavisi and Maria Benedicta Chigbolu (Athletics), Alice Sinno and Elena Berta (Sailing), Odette Giuffrida (Judo) and Daniele Lupo (Beach Volleyball). Present in the room there was also, the team leader of the M5S in Campidoglio, Paolo Ferrara and the Chairman of the Capitolina Sports Committee, Angelo Diario.

President's Malagò’s message was one of pride: "I would like to thank Deputy Mayor, Frongia and the Advisors Diario and Ferrara, because we speak the same language. All three have wanted to highlight their past as sportsmen and I also have that in my genes. There is this commonality and this trip, we should not divulge anything. This initiative came about because of the Mayor’s consent; we were expecting something of this nature to occur because in other cities and regions of Italy, here and there, these initiatives are deeply felt. I am the National President but of Roman origin and I am very happy about this initiative. I congratulate you and I will be just as happy, if we are invited to return here because I know how much you have done. Look at these ambassadors of our city: they are fantastic, honest, successful and they represent the positive aspects of the city".

Monday 25th July, Raggi and Malagò send-off for roman athletes departing for Rio

Mayor Virginia Raggi and CONI President Giovanni Malagò with the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini will be there to see off the roman athletes and support staff ahead of their participation in the Rio Olympic Games 2016.
The meeting will take place on the 25 July at 15.00 at the Sala delle Promoteca, in Campidoglio.
The initiative was promoted by Raggi herself, with the invitation extended to President Malagò.

National Council press release

CONI's National Council No. 243 met this afternoon, at 3:00 pm, at the Foro Italico, to discuss the following agenda:

1) Approval of the minutes of the 17 December 2015 meeting: the minutes were approved unanimously.

2) News from the President: Malagò opened the proceedings by commemorating the members of the sporting world that were deceased over the last two months and, at the same time, the important results obtained by Italian athletes over the same period.  It was also highlighted that this year the unforgotten Ondina Valla will be celebrated as the first Italian female athlete to win a golden medal at the Games, 80 years from her victory in Berlin 1936 and 10 years from her departure.

The Italian national team delegation, lead by Anna Riccardi, was then complimented for the positive outcome of the YOGs at Lillehammer, acknowledging also the contribution of board member Giampiero Pastore; the importance of the presentation revealing the projects developed by CONI's different organisational units ahead of Rio 2016 was also reiterated, with particular emphasis placed on the choice of Casa Italia. Some advance planning was made by setting the launch for the 3rd August, strategic date on the margin of important appointments, to ensure the presence of IOC members before the opening ceremony.  The second event mentioned by the Present was the presentation of the Rome 2024 dossier, at Palazzo dei Congressi, the iconic location for the 1960 Games. Malagò called it a great success and thanked the Board for the unity demonstrated by all members in pushing the candidature in this initial phase. It was also explained that winning the candidature for the Games could help the Federations that have difficulty in qualifying their teams to building, over seven years, competitive teams ahead of the games.

The Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will be present on 5 August in Rio for the Launch of the XXXI edition of the five-circle event, while the President of the Republic, Mattarella, has been invited to the Ceremony of the Paralympics.

Malagò, in talking about CONI's relationship with the Government, recalled the project "Sport and Suburbs" (Sport e Periferie). Out of the 1,672 requests that were submitted, 75% are for facilities already in existence, 25% for new facilities. It was emphasised that two basic criteria have been set: priority for what is already in existence and state interventions for state-owned facilities.

General themes were then discussed, reminding attendees that compulsory use of defibrillators has been postponed to 30 June, and also providing updates on issues regarding the Job Acts and the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT).  Furthermore, 9 March will see the presentation, together with Minister Poletti, of a plan for the employment of athletes at the end of their competitive career. A key convention also from the point of view of the policy espoused by IOC, which states the centrality of athletes.  CONI also scheduled a set of regulations to cover mother-athletes and athletes in maternity leave ahead of Rio 2016. Malagò, proud of the 2.7% increase in sport participation in 2014 and 2015, on the basis of the study carried out by the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT), expressed his wish for a resolution of all litigations between Federations, Sporting Disciplines and Promotion Agencies.

The message of the President saw contributions from: Marco Durante (Athletes Representative), Angelo Binaghi (Tennis), Giovanni Petrucci (Basketball), Vincenzo Manco (Agencies for the Promotion of Sport), Franco Carraro (IOC member), Riccardo Agabio (Gymnastics), Gianni Medugno (Associated Sporting Disciplines), Luciano Rossi (Skeet shooting), Vittorio Orlandi (Equestrianism), Maurizio Casasco, Romolo Rizzoli (Bowls), Ugo Claudio Matteoli (Competitive Fishing and Underwater Activities), Sandro Rossi (Associated Sporting Disciplines representative), Francesco Purromuto (Handball), Ugo Salines (Agencies for the Promotion of Sport representative), Diana Bianchedi (General Coordinator for Rome 2024).

3) F.S.N.-D.S.A.-E.P.S Activity: Unanimous approval was reached regarding: the Regulation of Meritorious Associations and the ratification of the appointment of Antonello De Tullio as Extraordinary Administrator of the Italian Bowling Sport Federation, with Alvio La Face as Deputy Administrator. The Board expressed its complete agreement also in relation to the formal procedures that the Rome 2024 candidature process is following. With no other matters arising, the proceedings were closed at 5:05 pm.

World champions welcomed to by the President of the Republic at the Quirinale. Mattarella: your example makes Italy a better place

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received this morning at the Quirinale a big delegation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and, for the first time, of world champions of non-Olympic disciplines. The ceremony, called to celebrate the Italian successes obtained in 2015, was attended by the Secretary General of CONI, Roberto Fabbricini, the Deputy Secretary General, Carlo Mornati, members of IOC Franco Carraro, Mario Pescante and Ottavio Cinquanta, by honorary member Manuela Di Centa, and many Federal Presidents and sport organisations recognised by CONI.

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, opened the day with his introductory speech. "We are proud of this historic meeting for what it means to our world, composed of 30 million practising individuals and 11 million registered members. I want to thank President Mattarella for the sensitivity and generosity he has demonstrated, allowing us to gather Olympic and Paralympic disciplines together, and to extend the invitation to athletes of non-Olympic disciplines. I am sure that this will be a historic precedent. It is a particularly happy moment for Italian sport: yesterday's ceremony, which saw the awarding of Golden Collars in the presence of Prime Minister Renzi, the launch of the Rome 2024 logo, the allocation to Italy of the Ryder Cup, which is the third event in the world in terms of importance, are all historic events that should be witnessed with pride. I would therefore like to renew my thanks to the President for his closeness to us: any time each of our athletes makes our national hymn resound and our flag go to full mast, without fail he phones me to express his congratulations and friendship, with closeness and also with a level of competence that I must say has surprised me. This, for us, is extraordinarily important".

The President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli, emphasised the importance of this moment. "This is an extraordinary day for all our family, to which I belong since I was 17. My "boys" are proud of their azure outfit and have honoured our flag around the world, bringing a message of hope: after the drama of a road accident or of an illness, which would have floored anybody, they achieved extraordinary results, giving us courage, passion and determination, and today they are here as champions. We dream of hosting the Paralympics in Rome in 2024 for the meaning this would carry. Sport goes beyond state borders and overcomes barriers, gives special meaning to life, is a daily victory that must be celebrated with pride and joy".

The event then saw contributions by Flavia Pennetta, winner of the "US Open" tennis tournament, and Alessandro Zanardi, Winner of three golden medals at the cycling paralympics on Nottwill surface. Pennetta spoke of the "emotion and satisfaction of athletes present, for having left their personal mark in competitions of great importance". It makes us proud to hear of the closeness of President Mattarella and obtain so many rewards that bring prestige to our country". Alex Zanardi echoed the gratitude coming from the Paralympic world. "Life teaches us that great conquests are reached with small steps. This ceremony is extraordinary, it makes us proud, and it is also important for who tried without succeeding.

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, closed the ceremony emphasising the importance of sport as a tool for well-being, capable of expressing key values for our society. "You are the champions, the emblems and symbols of Italian sport.  Your successes promote sporting practice and provide a serious contribution to the well-being of the Italian people. I am not talking only of physical well-being, but of a practical and concrete example of good conduct. Paralympic sport, for example, allows who has a disability to adapt it to his life's requirements, even it is not possible for the disability to be eliminated; therefore, Paralympic sport is important for all disabled people and for everyone who finds facing a competition more demanding than other people. Sport means fairness, fair play, following the rules: all qualities that our country is in great need of. For this reason, we must remain firmly against any form of doping. The example given by sport champions seeps deeply into the social fabric. For this reason, I really liked CONI's initiative "Win as grown-ups", conceived to offer children in difficult social and local environments a free and eye-opening sport, education and personal experience, representing an important opportunity to follow a healthy growth and development process. I renew my encouragement to you in advance of the Rio 2016 Games, hoping that they will bring us many medals, also with a view to Rome 2024: the logo is very beautiful, I hope that we will reach the finishing line".  

Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Rome is officially a candidate for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The letter that formalizes the commitment to organize the greatest sports festival in the world was sent today to the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, that on 16^th of September will reveal  the names of all the cities that have come forward.

This morning in the Rome City Council, Rome 2024 President Luca di Montezemolo, CONI President Giovanni Malagò and the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino signed the letter that formalizes the challenge of the Italian candidature and enhances its strengths. The challenging path of the Capital begins today. The objective is to build and share a project that will provide athletes and the world "the opportunity to experience the excitement and the Olympic spirit" in a stage of unparalleled beauty. No other city in the world can offer a similar heritage of art, history and culture that embraces such a wide span of time, and that allows to "perform the Olympics in the most spectacular and symbolic venues of the Eternal City".

Beauty, culture, and above all, with the commitment of Italy, innovation and sustainability, are consistent the main guidelines dictated by the 2020 IOC Agenda  that envisage a strong focus on legacy:  the future use for the city of the structures used for the Olympics.  Indications that the Rome 2024 Committee embraces with great conviction next to the equally crucial suggestion of sobriety. Rome, as the letter explains, has many sports facilities, partially in parks and major green areas, which will be used for the 2024 Olympics with minor upgrades and, if necessary, by using temporary structures.

Finally, the letter made reference to the Olympic values, that,  in a multicultural city like the Capital, "where diversity becomes the backbone of equality", can really build a bridge to peace and friendship of all nations.

PM Renzi to Malagò: “Full and total governmental support for the bid”

The Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, met this morning with the president of CONI, Giovanni Malagò at the Palazzo Chigi.

During the course of the meeting, which lasted around 45 minutes, they tackled a series of issues relating to the world of sport, starting with the candidacy of Rome for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“On behalf of the Government, I confirm full and total support for the bid of Rome”, said the Prime Minister to the President, to which he informed Renzi of his imminent trip to Kuala Lumur to participate in the 128th CIO Session. “Giovanni, give my regards to President Bach and tell him that I hope to meet him soon, I’d be pleased if he were to come to Italy”.

Malagò also updated Renzi on the development of the bid after the Boston withdrawal and on the situation of the international scene in light of the Agenda 2020.

“I am very happy with the conversation I had with Prime Minister Renzi – declared Malagò as he returned to his office at the Foro Italico -. It was a great meeting. Renzi and the Government are by our side and this gives us great strength in view of the Olympics. I leave for Kuala Lumpur even more optimistic. I have already informed President Luca of Montezemolo of the agenda. Among other things Renzi has told me that he will soon appoint a Minister for Sport”.

Among other issues, we also discussed details of sport in relation to the ISTAT [Italian Institute of National Statistics], Sport in Schools, ‘The Good School’ project, Italy’s candidacy for the 2022 Ryder Cup and for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. “Renzi – concluded Malagò – will be with me in Monza on the 6 September at the Formula 1 Grand Prix and has promised that he will do his best to be in Rio for a few days for the 2016 Olympic Games”.

Gioco del Lotto bets on sports with the project "Vincere da grandi"

CONI and Gioco del Lotto presented in the Hall of Honour "Vincere da grandi" a sporting, cultural and social project that will support Italian families. Starting from May, twice a week for a period of six months, children between 5 and 14 years coming from families living in poor areas with a high risk of social exclusion will have the chance to try, learn and practise many sports for free. The project will be held in four Italian cities: in Rome (Foro Italico) with Carlo Molfetta, captain of the national Italian taekwondo team, winner of the Olympic gold medal in London 2012; in Naples (Scampia) with Giovanni Maddaloni, President and Master of A.S.D. Star Judo Club; in Palermo (Zen) with Rachid Berradi, Olympic athlete in Sydney 2000, one of the best Italian middle-distance runners and President of A.S.D. Atletica Berradi 091; and in Milan (Quarto Oggiaro).

The President of CONI Malagò stressed the importance of this initiative. "I am grateful to Lottomatica for the choice made and for giving support to our association with passion and conviction. With this initiative, we propose a model of virtuous cooperation between public and private parties that aims through sports to promote prevention and social development where those would be most useful. In my opinion, teaming up with private parties motivated by the same goals represents a winning formula to provide real contribution to the sports system and to the community. Therefore, I hope that initiatives like this one will be able to stimulate the construction of a real network of supporters, united by the desire to help the country grow and improve". The CEO of Lottomatica, Fabio Cairoli, summarized the terms of the project with great pride. "We want to thank CONI for this opportunity, because we share such important values as the respect for rules, legality and the will to believe in young people. This project demonstrates our attachment to the concept of social responsibility that allowed Lottomatica, through Gioco del Lotto, to distinguish itself over the years in Italy, linking its name to the most important cultural and social institutions of the country while paying close attention and allotting resources for the areas in which it operates and develops". The event was also attended by the CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, the Federal Presidents Alfio Giomi (Athletics) and Mario Scarzella (Archery), the honorary member of the IOC Manuela Di Centa, the Olympic champion of judo Giuseppe Maddaloni and the footballer Benedetto Iraci.

The project "Vincere da grandi", which involves an investment of 300,000 euro, will offer kids a sporting context and educational excellence, thanks to federal technicians and Olympic champions who will follow
them closely during their journey. The participants, identified by sporting organizations involved in the project through the regional social welfare network consisting of municipalities, educational institutions and social services, will be divided by age and will attend athletics, karate, volleyball, basketball, swimming, football, tennis, badminton, sailing, judo, gymnastics, taekwondo and rugby courses for free (special courses will be also offered for children with disabilities). The children will have the chance to attend a two-week course during summer holidays in the same structures; they will also have the opportunity to attend a sporting event of national/international level that will take place in the region where they live. CONI and Lottomatica want to offer a great opportunity for knowledge, cultural and social growth for the whole community.

The sporting testimonials also wanted to express their unconditional commitment to the project: Giovanni Maddaloni spoke of "a major gift for those who love sports. We are acting in twodirections: one is linked to the competitive growth for the Olympic dream, the other is aimed to social inclusion throughout our world". Rachid Berradi stressed that "this initiative will introduce young people to sport, allowing them to become champions in life and on the field"; the Olympic athlete Carlo Molfetta exalted "Vincere da grandi" by saying that it "will open up disciplines such as taekwondo and many others by breaking down barriers and introducing young people to sport". A special praise came from the other Olympic gold medalist, the judoka Giuseppe Maddaloni, who wanted to testify his affinity to a project "that gives us the opportunity to invest in young people to believe in the future and in our future champions". The Councilor for Sports of the City of Palermo, Cesare Lapiana, brought greetings from the Mayor, Leoluca Orlando, expressing "satisfaction with this initiative, which will be supported by institutions through commitment and passion for the development of sport".