FAIR PLAY MENARINI INTERNATIONAL AWARD, A WAVE OF EMOTIONS MARKS THE 29TH EDITION
Among this year's awardees was the icon of football, Luis Figo, Ballon d'Or winner with Real Madrid and winner of 4 consecutive italian championships with Inter, a winger who has redefined the role with his charisma and unparalleled ability. The Award also paid tribute to Demetrio Albertini, midfield player and reference for generations of fans, and "Billy" Costacurta, renowned defender of the AC Milan and national teams, representing an era of football that made history.
Among those honoured this year were also Gianmarco Tamberi, Olympic and world high jump champion and flagbearer for Italy at the Paris 2024 Games, a charismatic and inspiring athlete, capable of turning each competition into a moment of both entertainment and a celebration of values. Also awarded was fellow flagbearer Arianna Errigo, fencing legend and symbol of determination and lifelong dedication to a sporting discipline that she has helped to gain greater appreciation. Recognition also went to Sasha Vujacic, two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, who earned admiration for his competitive spirit and a career built on commitment and respect.
Joining them were Blanka Vlasic, high jump icon and two-time world champion; Alice Bellandi, Olympic gold medallist and newly crowned judo world champion, and Nadia Battocletti, a rising star in middle-distance running who claimed Olympic silver in the 10,000 metres through strength, strategy, and dedication. Andy Díaz, dominant triple jumper with an Olympic bronze and indoor world title, was also present together with Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy, Paralympic gold medallist in the discus throw, a true example of strength and inspiration. Completing the line up was Guido Meda, the legendary voice of MotoGP, acknowledged for the passion with which he has so enthusiastically commented on races over the years.
Making the evening even more special was the presence of three Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors, who themselves have received the award in past editions: Ian Thorpe, five-time Olympic champion and swimming legend, Giancarlo Antognoni, 1982 World Cup winner, recognised for loyalty and a sense of belonging towards the city of Florence, and Fabrizio Donato, winner of the triple jump bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Sky TG24, and hosted by Rachele Sangiuliano, Federica Lodi, Michele Cagiano, and Omar Schillaci, and a special commentary was given by Federico Buffa, whose words enhanced the more profound meaning of each of the stories told throughout the evening.
In addition to these remarkable champions, the winners of the Fair Play Menarini "Young Athletes" Award - Nicola Nardo, Michele Vivalda, and Alessandro Bugli - were also celebrated, together with the awardee of the Special Fiamme Gialle "Study and Sport" Award, Margherita Voliani. These two special awards, which aim to put the spotlight on particular positive acts of fair play by the younger generations, were conferred last June during the press conferences held at the Italian Olympic Committee and Tuscany Region headquarters.
"The Fair Play Menarini Award is a mosaic of stories which both inspire and convey a meaningful message, and each edition reminds us of the strength of those who choose to live sport with integrity and respect - said Valeria Speroni Cardi and Filippo Paganelli, Members of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation - With that same energy, we are already looking ahead to the 30th edition, and we look forward to seeing you in 2026 for yet another magnificent adventure together."
The 29th edition of the Fair Play Menarini International Award is supported by the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale as Institutional Partner, and by Sustenium, Frecciarossa, Estra, and Adiacent as initiative partners.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
7 hours ago
- National Post
ESPN pundit rips Raptors, plus what's next for Toronto this summer
The dog days of summer are upon us, but basketball never stops and the Toronto Raptors remain busy. Article content The team's Summer League stint in Las Vegas went well, with plenty of youngsters impressing in a strong run and the veterans, including Scottie Barnes — who recently turned 24 — also getting work in. Article content Article content Last year, the team felt it got huge benefits from a mini-camp held in Spain, improving chemistry significantly, which helped during the tough stretches of a long, losing season — so they're doing it again. Article content This time, Toronto's camp will be held in Madrid at the facilities of Real Madrid. Toronto and Real Madrid have met in pre-season matchups over the years and enjoy a strong relationship. Article content Chus Mateo, who was Real Madrid's head coach until being dismissed last month, even joined Darko Rajakovic's coaching staff at Summer League last summer. Centre Bruno Fernando signed with the club after being cut by the Raptors last season, joining former Raptor Serge Ibaka, who also was on the roster. Article content The Raptors will mostly go their separate ways following the camp, before reuniting toward the end of September ahead of media day in Toronto and training camp in Calgary. The well-travelled organization also will visit British Columbia, California and the U.S. East Coast during the pre-season before Season 31 tips off. Article content RAPTORS OVERPAY? Article content According to ESPN insider Bobby Marks, a long-time front office member of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors helped contribute to the chilly restricted free agency market. Article content Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago guard Josh Giddey, Nets wing Cam Thomas and Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes have yet to come to terms with their existing clubs or new ones via offer sheets. Article content Marks posits that Toronto giving Quickley five years and close to $160 million (it was reported as up to $175 million) a year ago has 'totally screwed up restricted free agency,' Marks said on YouTube. Article content 'That's where (the other restricted free agents and their agents) are looking at as the benchmark. Article content 'That contract screwed up a lot of things, and that's why you can't use comps … I don't think Toronto got enough heat for that number because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32-33-million (a year) guy,' Marks said. Article content Article content Article content Marks said players and their camps now want a deal like that, but teams aren't giving them out, leading to standoffs. Article content Article content Toronto had seen Quickley as the centrepiece of its OG Anunoby deal with the New York Knicks (even though RJ Barrett had more of a pedigree and has actually improved more in Toronto, leading the team in scoring since arriving). The former sixth man of the year award runner-up brings a skillset no other Raptor possesses (elite pull-up three-point capabilities) and one that complements Barnes tremendously in theory (Quickley only played in 33 games this season and rarely was in at the same time as Barnes in his 38 2023-24 Raptors contests). Article content Toronto bet heavily on upside and fit with Quickley's deal and will need to rely on his staying on the court and the salary cap continuing to rise significantly for people to change their minds about the deal. Article content Apropos of nothing, this corner would easily pick a healthy Quickley in Toronto over Kuminga, Giddey or Grimes.
Toronto Sun
8 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
ESPN pundit rips Raptors, plus what's next for Toronto this summer
'That contract screwed up a lot of things," says Bobby Marks of Immanuel Quickley deal. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter, second from right, is congratulated by, from left, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. AP Photo The dog days of summer are upon us, but basketball never stops and the Toronto Raptors remain busy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The team's Summer League stint in Las Vegas went well, with plenty of youngsters impressing in a strong run and the veterans, including Scottie Barnes — who recently turned 24 — also getting work in. Last year, the team felt it got huge benefits from a mini-camp held in Spain, improving chemistry significantly, which helped during the tough stretches of a long, losing season — so they're doing it again. This time, Toronto's camp will be held in Madrid at the facilities of Real Madrid. Toronto and Real Madrid have met in pre-season matchups over the years and enjoy a strong relationship. Chus Mateo, who was Real Madrid's head coach until being dismissed last month, even joined Darko Rajakovic's coaching staff at Summer League last summer. Centre Bruno Fernando signed with the club after being cut by the Raptors last season, joining former Raptor Serge Ibaka, who also was on the roster. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Raptors will mostly go their separate ways following the camp, before reuniting toward the end of September ahead of media day in Toronto and training camp in Calgary. The well-travelled organization also will visit British Columbia, California and the U.S. East Coast during the pre-season before Season 31 tips off. RAPTORS OVERPAY? According to ESPN insider Bobby Marks, a long-time front office member of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors helped contribute to the chilly restricted free agency market. Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago guard Josh Giddey, Nets wing Cam Thomas and Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes have yet to come to terms with their existing clubs or new ones via offer sheets. Marks posits that Toronto giving Quickley five years and close to $160 million (it was reported as up to $175 million) a year ago has 'totally screwed up restricted free agency,' Marks said on YouTube. 'That's where (the other restricted free agents and their agents) are looking at as the benchmark. 'That contract screwed up a lot of things, and that's why you can't use comps … I don't think Toronto got enough heat for that number because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32-33-million (a year) guy,' Marks said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Marks said players and their camps now want a deal like that, but teams aren't giving them out, leading to standoffs. Toronto had seen Quickley as the centrepiece of its OG Anunoby deal with the New York Knicks (even though RJ Barrett had more of a pedigree and has actually improved more in Toronto, leading the team in scoring since arriving). The former sixth man of the year award runner-up brings a skillset no other Raptor possesses (elite pull-up three-point capabilities) and one that complements Barnes tremendously in theory (Quickley only played in 33 games this season and rarely was in at the same time as Barnes in his 38 2023-24 Raptors contests). Toronto bet heavily on upside and fit with Quickley's deal and will need to rely on his staying on the court and the salary cap continuing to rise significantly for people to change their minds about the deal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Apropos of nothing, this corner would easily pick a healthy Quickley in Toronto over Kuminga, Giddey or Grimes. EUROPEAN BASKETBALL HEATS UP More than 30 NBA players, including multiple MVP winners Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo and likely future MVP Luka Doncic, will compete at the FIBA Eurobasket tournament starting later this month. Serbia, Germany (who beat Serbia to win the World Cup in 2023) and France (who won't have Victor Wembanyama) are the favourites heading into the tournament. You can consider the undercard the 2027 World Cup European qualifiers, which are taking place right now and don't have the same NBA pedigree. That's why Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl is one of the bigger names there. He had a big game Sunday, but Austria fell to the Netherlands. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. No Raptors will be competing at Eurobasket since Poeltl's team did not qualify. Read More RAPTORS 905 LANDS BIG MAN If you missed it last week, the Raptors waived big man Colin Castleton and signed Olivier Sarr. Castleton got into 11 games with Toronto last season, then went to Philadelphia, but was brought back on an non-guaranteed deal in the off-season and played at Summer League in Las Vegas. While there, Castleton did not move the needle at all. It was unlikely he would have made the roster anyway, so the Raptors will instead take a look at Sarr, the older brother of 2024 No. 2 overall draft pick Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The elder Sarr, 26 and 6-foot-10, signed an Exhibit 10 contract, per Sportsnet's Blake Murphy, meaning it's also unguaranteed and it gives Toronto a bit of a leg up on other teams to get Sarr on the Raptors 905 G League roster should he fail to make the Raptors. He has played 46 NBA games for Oklahoma City over three years, but tore his Achilles in April of 2024 and missed all of this past season. Sarr averaged 13 rebounds per game and 2.2 blocks in 18 G League games in 2023-24. AROUND THE RIM Last week, two Raptors legends teamed up again on behalf of Giants of Africa. In Rwanda, Masai Ujiri and Kawhi Leonard were together again, helping mentor campers and posing for pictures. What must Raptors fans have been thinking when watching the two, who helped bring an NBA championship to Canada, reunite … Hamilton will honour champion and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thursday at 'Shai Rally Day.' The rally will start at 3:30 p.m. at Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath will present Gilgeous-Alexander with the key to the city there. Later he'll make an appearance at the Canadian Football League game between the Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions. @WolstatSun Columnists World Wrestling Sunshine Girls Opinion
Edmonton Journal
8 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
ESPN pundit rips Raptors, plus what's next for Toronto this summer
The dog days of summer are upon us, but basketball never stops and the Toronto Raptors remain busy. Article content The team's Summer League stint in Las Vegas went well, with plenty of youngsters impressing in a strong run and the veterans, including Scottie Barnes — who recently turned 24 — also getting work in. Article content Last year, the team felt it got huge benefits from a mini-camp held in Spain, improving chemistry significantly, which helped during the tough stretches of a long, losing season — so they're doing it again. Article content Article content This time, Toronto's camp will be held in Madrid at the facilities of Real Madrid. Toronto and Real Madrid have met in pre-season matchups over the years and enjoy a strong relationship. Article content Article content Chus Mateo, who was Real Madrid's head coach until being dismissed last month, even joined Darko Rajakovic's coaching staff at Summer League last summer. Centre Bruno Fernando signed with the club after being cut by the Raptors last season, joining former Raptor Serge Ibaka, who also was on the roster. Article content The Raptors will mostly go their separate ways following the camp, before reuniting toward the end of September ahead of media day in Toronto and training camp in Calgary. The well-travelled organization also will visit British Columbia, California and the U.S. East Coast during the pre-season before Season 31 tips off. Article content According to ESPN insider Bobby Marks, a long-time front office member of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors helped contribute to the chilly restricted free agency market. Article content Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago guard Josh Giddey, Nets wing Cam Thomas and Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes have yet to come to terms with their existing clubs or new ones via offer sheets. Article content Marks posits that Toronto giving Quickley five years and close to $160 million (it was reported as up to $175 million) a year ago has 'totally screwed up restricted free agency,' Marks said on YouTube. Article content 'That's where (the other restricted free agents and their agents) are looking at as the benchmark. Article content 'That contract screwed up a lot of things, and that's why you can't use comps … I don't think Toronto got enough heat for that number because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32-33-million (a year) guy,' Marks said. Article content Article content Article content Toronto had seen Quickley as the centrepiece of its OG Anunoby deal with the New York Knicks (even though RJ Barrett had more of a pedigree and has actually improved more in Toronto, leading the team in scoring since arriving). The former sixth man of the year award runner-up brings a skillset no other Raptor possesses (elite pull-up three-point capabilities) and one that complements Barnes tremendously in theory (Quickley only played in 33 games this season and rarely was in at the same time as Barnes in his 38 2023-24 Raptors contests). Article content Toronto bet heavily on upside and fit with Quickley's deal and will need to rely on his staying on the court and the salary cap continuing to rise significantly for people to change their minds about the deal.
