FAIR PLAY MENARINI: THE NAMES OF THE PARTICIPANTS AT'THE CHAMPIONS TELL THEIR STORIES'TALK SHOW ARE REVEALED

FLORENCE, Italy,Nov. 20, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- The journey of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Awardcontinues. Following the spectacular award ceremony on 4 July, the event honouring the pinnacle of loyalty and fair play in sports concludes the year with the talk showThe Champions Tell their Stories, to be held on30 Novemberat5:00 pmin theSalone dei CinquecentoofPalazzo VecchioinFlorence.

"Champions, who represent the world of sport in various capacities, have been called upon as standard bearers of values that are equally valid on the playing fields as in life" – emphasisedLetizia Perini, Sports Councillor forFlorence–"The stories of their lives, successes in their respective fields of sport and the sacrifices made to achieve them, their courage, strength and determination to pick themselves up after every setback, in sport and in life, resonate with us all. I would like to thank the Fair Play Menarini Foundation for championing this important mission with perseverance and passion".

The names of the participants, and the details of this all-new winter version of The Champions Tell their Stories, were revealed during the press conference today. High profile athletes, who have embodied the highest values of sport throughout their careers, will once again be present. The football legends include none other than the Argentinian defenderJavier Zanetti, Inter Milan's long-time captain and Fair Play Menarini Ambassador since 2023.Borja Valero, the Spanish mid-fielder, symbol and ever-popular idol of the Fiorentina team, will also take part in the talk show. 

Volleyball will be represented by the"maestro"himself,Andrea Zorzi, two-times world champion with Italvolley and winner of the Fair Play Menarini Award in 2010, together with up-and-coming star,Ekaterina Antropova, a gold medal winner at the last Olympic Games inParis. A moving story of solidarity and friendship comes from the world of athletics, and the triple jump in particular, starringAndy Diaz, who won his first Olympic medal in Italian colours atParis2024 after leavingCuba, and his coach,Fabrizio Donato, bronze medal winner in the same discipline atLondon2012, who welcomed him into his home and helped him settle into his new country.

The star-studded parade continues withRigivan Ganeshamoorthy, the revelation of Paralympic athletics who won a gold in the discus throw a few months ago inParis, improving on the world record three times in a row.Giuliano Razzoli, the Olympic slalom champion at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and Fair Play Menarini Ambassador one year later, takes us to the ski slopes. Lastly, the audience will be captivated by the emotion-packed stories of journalistFederico Buffa, winner in July of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award in the"Narrating Emotions"category.

A prominent sports authority likeIvan Zazzaroni, Fair Play Menarini Ambassador in 2019 and Chief Editor of the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, commented on the names of the talk show participants as follows.

"I am sure that this year, once again, The Champions Tell their Stories will offer a unique range of viewpoints, with an interesting exchange of insights and anecdotes between the new champions and sporting icons, coming from different backgrounds and disciplines. I still remember the depth of the insights shared by the likes ofIan Thorpe,Tommie Smith, andEdwin Moses".

The Champions Tell their Stories talk show, produced in partnership withSky TG24,will be broadcast live on Sky's Channel 501from5:00 pmonwards. The show will be presented byRachele Sangiuliano, former volleyball champion, andSky Sporthosts,Omar SchillaciandMichele Cagiano, Deputy Directors of Sky TG24, together withAlessandro Acton, journalist andSky Sporthost.

"We are really looking forward to this unique moment of collaboration, especially in such a fantastic setting as the Salone dei Cinquecento"– saidValeria Speroni CardiandFilippo Paganelli, Board Members of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation –"We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the Municipality ofFlorence, which has shared the values of the Award for many years now. We hope that this new edition of The Champions Tell their Stories will provide younger generations food for thought and examples for life".

SOURCE Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite