At the next Olympics Italy will have the chance to improve its medal record. “The problem is what will happen in the long term: there is strong concern both in structural terms and in the involvement of the active population”, says Malagò
For now there is something for everyone. The triumph of swimming, the redemption of fencing, the confirmation of the most anticipated champions – Jacobs and Tamberi again arm in arm: world joke, double European gold. For sporting Italy it was a summer of transition. That of the return to earth, after the Olympic hangover in Tokyo. Or the sowing before a new harvest: Paris 2024. The great appointment, a flowering of medals in the making. But also the last planned and planned exploit. “At the next Games we will do very well”, declared Coni president Giovanni Malagò last June. “The problem is what will happen in the long term: there is great concern both in structural terms and in the involvement of the active population. Without the relaunch of grassroots sport and at school, the future is uncertain ”.
Olympic dividend: from the pillars …
Let’s start by navigating on sight: the next two years, the road that will lead to France. According to Carlo Mornati, general secretary of Coni, “the virtual projections assign Italy 44 podiums”. Four more than the rich Japanese booty, already a national record at the Olympics. It is not one score out of reach. But in all likelihood it will change in the composition: the en-plein driver of athletics is unrepeatable, the blue expedition will be pushed into the pool and foil. Already in Tokyo, our swimming (7 medals, zero gold) showed glimpses of that choral power which exploded less than twelve months later. In Paris, the various Ceccons, Martinenghi and Quadarella will be in their prime. Not to mention Benedetta Pilato, born in 2005 already on the roof of the world. To Greg Paltrinieri the palm of the veteran: it will be fun. Same goes for fencing (in Japan 5 medals, but zero gold for the first time since 1980). When there is method and tradition, starting from year zero is easier: Italy on the platform has angrily dominated the last European Championships and finished third in the World Cup. The return of the coach Stefano Cerioni has put in place the internal disagreements of the women’s foil. While on the men side, in addition to the usual Garozzo and the emerging Marini, we note the exploits of the fresh youth teams of the Under 20 world title both in the saber and in the foil. In a nutshell: a good half of our Parisian medal table will depend on strokes and jabs.
… to high hopes
What about the rest? Filippo Ganna will guide the hopes of road cycling, where great good is also being said about the 2000 class of Filippo Baroncini, but further indications will come from the World Championships scheduled from 18 to 25 September. Rowing will also take place in the same days, another friendly discipline that has already confirmed the solidity of the blue movement at the Under 23 level. Athletics has the same goal: to give continuity of performance, without worrying about the unrepeatable quality of the metal forged in Tokyo. Nespoli and Boari are the certainties of archery, the timeless Vanessa Ferrari does not give up the dream of a second medal in artistic gymnastics, Vito Dell’Aquila aims to repeat the gold in taekwondo. It will then be the last Olympics in the ring, with boxing canceled starting from Los Angeles 2028: Italy will try to qualify the big male boxers absent in Japan, while Irma Testa is among the potential favorites of the women’s lightweights. Shooting and team sports are also on the hunt for revenge, a real flop of the last Games: in volleyball and water polo, especially on the Settebello side, vice-champion of the world, a positive generational change is underway that can bring them back on track for the podium. On the other hand, it is difficult to expect exploits from football in crisis or from the growing Italbasket. Finally, there will be no more karate medals, removed from the Olympic program in favor of break dance, but Musetti and Sinner will give us a competitive dimension in tennis. Sports that go out, sports that come in. Of an Italy that has all the cards to do well.
Darkness beyond Paris 2024
The trouble, as Malagò says, is that Paris could be our swan song. According to a report drawn up by the CONI Study Center and Statistical Offices, the pandemic has killed 1.7 million members. And the magical nights effect, the golden summer of 2021, only partially offset a trend that was sharpened by birth rates and a lack of planning. “It is up to the Miur to make use of sport and health for our young people”, insist the leaders of the Coni. A few weeks ago, Minister Bianchi and Lega Calcio signed a first memorandum of understanding for the dissemination of sports activity in schools, on the strong push of Undersecretary Vezzali. But the plants remain obsolete from north to south. And for now the resources are focused on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Absolute priority, more than just a feeling: “The Games work when the host country’s athletes are successful”, Thomas Bach, the number one of the International Olympic Committee, he said about France. And in fact the transalpines, after a few too many disappointments in Japan, are launching a massive sporting restructuring plan in view of the home edition. Top five goal in the medal table. Certain revolutions are permanent: only the race in London 2012, for example, has made the United Kingdom a great power of sport. Today as tomorrow. With us, on the other hand, you risk as long as the boat goes. Evergreen song, dangerous fashion.
