Florence, 30 April 2022 – It was presented in the Pistelli Room of Palazzo Medici Riccardi by Nicola Armentano, councilor of the Metropolitan City delegated to Sport, and Domenico La Penta (Coni) with Giovanpaolo Innocenti (Azzurri Italy), Gianni Taccetti (Veterans of Sport ) and Ussi, the innovative progetto ‘Fair Play’ for fair play and education for healthy cheering. On the occasion, a large group of athletes from the various sports disciplines (Manuel Pasqual, Vincenzo Luciani, Aleksandra Cotti, Simone Favaro, Svetlana Korytova, Giovanna Volterrani) intervened in the presence of those who joined the initiative. Others have sent a video message (Lorenzo Bacci, Alberto Bettiol, Liam Udom, Filippo Megli, Simone Ciulli, Matteo Vannucci).
The project consists in sending in the months of May and June 2022 athletes or people who have written significant pages in the history of sport to attend football, basketball, volleyball, handball, rugby, baseball and water polo matches played by children aged between 11 and 15 years old.
ll award it will be assigned to the club based in the territories of the Metropolitan City of Florence whose fans will have behaved in a manner that respects the values of sport and who have distinguished themselves for gestures of fair play.
The winning company will receive a cash prize for renovating the plant in terms of environmental sustainability. The winner will be decided on the basis of a ranking drawn up by the athletes and representative figures of the sports world who will attend the competitions.
“Respect for others is the basis of civil coexistence – the Metropolitan Mayor Dario Nardella writes in a message – We talk about fair play especially in sport as a correct attitude towards opponents. Fairness and good education, as well as patience, are the virtues of the strong. This is true in a sports field like every moment of our life “.
“Sport is an engine of growth and bearer of healthy values - underlines Armentano – crucial for the development of young people. Winning a competition with one’s own strength is the best demonstration that an athlete can have. Fair play is knowing how to get involved while always respecting the others, with a spirit of service and altruism. Only in this way can we train the women and men of tomorrow through sport “.
The statements of the testimonials
Lorenzo Bacci – Shooting
Born in Florence on 14 December 1994, he was a pupil of Aldo Vigiani, technical historian of the Cascine shooting and of the national team, and companion of Niccolò Campriani. At 10 the Giovanissimi tricolor, in 2013 the European gold in the rifle. Athlete of the FF.OO. participated in its first Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“Sport is the only one that has the power to unite by breaking down barriers. Of ethnicity, sex, language, culture and religion. Here is, or what should be, its greatness that goes beyond the competitive result: to put everyone on the same level , do not make each other feel different, embrace whoever wins and who loses “.
Alberto Bettiol – Alberto Bettiol
Born in Poggibonsi (SI) on 29 October 1993, at the age of 16 he won the European jrs time trial, since 2013 he has been a professional. He boasts 4 victories, including the 2019 Giro delle Flanders and a stage at the 2021 Giro d’Italia. He has participated in the Tokyo Games, 3 Tours, 2 Giri d’Italia and 3 Professional Road World Championships.
“Fair play is the essence of sport and is based on respect for oneself and for others. Fair play, which literally means” fair play “, has deep roots such as collaboration, dedication and observance of the rules. All principles that sport teaches us and which are also the basis of everyday life “.
Simone Ciulli – Paralympic swimming
Born in Florence on 9 May 1986, at the age of 12 he made his debut with the Swimming Club Firenze to move six years later to the Rari Nantes Florentia. A lawyer by profession, he won silver in the 4×100 freestyle at the Tokyo 2020/21 Paralympic Games, setting a new European record. He is also a coach.
“Fair play is much more than the simple Italian translation of” fair play “. It is a lifestyle that must be taught on a cultural level and which must be carried forward as a value day by day, today more than ever. it helps us grow and also teaches us to face difficulties with our heads held high “.
Aleksandra Cotti – Water polo
Born in San Giovanni in Persiceto (BO) on 13 December 1988, she started with basketball to move to water polo, like her sister. You have a rich palmarès: 3 championships with Fiorentina WP, Olympic silver at Rio 2016, one European gold and one bronze. Today she trains the women’s Rari in A1 and the National under 16.
“Having respect in sport is having respect for sport. If you want to have everything from sport you must first give it everything. If you want to have respect you must first respect. They are simple concepts, apparently easy, but only those who play sports know their meaning and apply them. not only in competitive practice but also in life “.
Simone Favaro – Rugby
Born in Treviso on 7 November 1988, at the age of 20 he made his debut with the senior national team, the following year he participated in the Rugby World Cup at 7, and in 2016 in England at the Rugby Cup at 15. “Player of the year “In the same year in Glagosw, also boasts participation in the Barbarians Tour 2017.
“I believe that fair play in sport is the means that allows a neophyte to dream, an expert to keep fighting, a winner to enjoy success and a loser to accept the verdict serenely, giving all participants an atmosphere respectful, competitive and passionate “.
Svetlana Korytova – Pallavolo
Born on March 24, 1968 in Ivanovo (Russia), she was one of the top players in volleyball. With her national team she collected two Olympic medals: gold in Seoul 1988 and silver in Barcelona 4 years later. She was also world champion in 1990 and in Europe in 1989 and 1991. Today she coaches an amateur team.
“Fair play represents calm and fairness even in the most difficult and delicate moments. It is what teaches us not to exalt ourselves in victories and not to beat ourselves down in defeats. A life lesson that educates us to manage ourselves and the relationship with the others. And in sport it is a fundamental, irreplaceable value “.
Vincenzo Luciani – Baseball
Born in Cellino Attanasio (TE) on 25 June 1946, he started baseball at the age of 8. He has played and trained at various levels; currently he is youth coach. In his career he has collected 3 titles as a player, 3 as a manager and 3 Champions Cups. He is inducted into the Italian baseball Hall of Fame.
“If I had to define the concept of fair play in a few words, I would say that for me it means first and foremost accepting victory and defeat with dignity. And then, again: rejecting racism and violence. Today we live in a world that is increasingly poor in values; the practice of sport, on the other hand, teaches them to us from an early age “.
Filippo Megli – Swimming
Born in Florence on 10 May 1997, his first contact with a swimming pool was only 3 months old. Before swimming he had practiced soccer. Carabiniere, among the most significant results of his career so far the 5th place with the Italian record at the 2019 World Championships in the 200 freestyle and the 4th in the 4×200, and the 5th in Tokyo in the 4×200.
“Practicing a sport must not be based on the idea of success but on the idea of giving your best while respecting others. Furthermore, during the recent Olympic Games I was able to observe even more closely that there are no inequalities in sport but only two common goals for all: sharing and fun “.
Manuel Pasqual – Calcium
Born in San Donà di Piave (VE) on March 13, 1982, he has covered all the stages of a brilliant career in which 11 seasons with the Fiorentina shirt and as many appearances in the national team stand out. He currently plays 7-a-side football as a hobby, chairs a padel club and is a columnist on Dazn.
“I have always thought that fair play is the achievement of a goal, that is, victory in compliance with the rules of the opponent, the referees and the fans. In every competition there is almost always, inevitably, who wins and who loses but it is the ones that the others have, however, an element that unites them in sport “.
Liam Udom – Basket
Born in Bagno a Ripoli (FI) on June 27, 2000, in 2006 he made his debut at the Sancat Firenze “because my brother was already playing and I wanted to be like him”. So far he has worn the Piacenza Basket jerseys in Serie B and the Scaligera Verona in A / 2. He has participated three times in the national finals and in an Italian Cup.
Fair play is one of the most important things in sport because it teaches us to respect the rules, the opponents and everything you do. And this is useful to make us grow not only in sports but also outside because it accustoms us to those that are only the rules indispensable to our life and to coexistence with others.
Matteo Vannucci – Motorcycling
Born in Bagno a Ripoli (FI) on May 19, 2003, infected by his father’s passion, he begins to win with mini bikes in 2017; the following year he moved on to high wheels, winning the Yamaha 125 Cup Trophy. Since then, his palmarès has been enriched with other successes, all achieved in the higher categories.
“Fair play is the first thing that must be respected in any sport practiced both at the amateur and professional level, or even just as a hobby, to give a true model of reference for the little ones. The example of exemplary behavior, of education and respect, is the added value that every sport can give “.
Giovanna Volterrani – Handball
Born on January 31, 1968 in Pisa, she started with handball at the age of 11. Her right wing, she at 15 she was already playing in Serie A in Borgo San Lorenzo. She has been a professional since 1987, she has won an Italian junior title and an Italian Cup, and she boasts 61 appearances in the national team. You have coached in A / 2 and the men’s and women’s youth teams.
“For me fair play is a way of thinking about sport as an opportunity for participation and taking responsibility, respecting the rules and the opponent, promoting values that are as important in daily life as in sports such as friendship, respect for others and team spirit “.
