FAIR PLAY MENARINI INTERNATIONAL AWARD, THE 2025 EDITION BEGINS WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS YEAR'S AWARDEES AT CONI

ROME,June 11, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- The sense of anticipation is increasing, the names are unveiled, and the stories begin to take shape: today, at the official presentation at the Hall of Honour of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the Fair Play Menarini Foundation announced the names of the national and international sports legends who will be the awardees of the29th edition of the Award, due to take place onJuly 2ndand 3rdinFlorenceand Fiesole.

These new champions of ethics, loyalty, and respect, who come from a wide variety of different sporting disciplines, will join Fair Play Menarini to promote the values that make sport a significant driver in the growth of the younger generations.

"Fair play is an essential principle in both sport and life; it is the foundation upon which we can build a better society and educate the younger generations,"statedGiovanni Malagò, President of CONI."The Fair Play Menarini International Award, now in its 29th edition, offers a remarkable means through which we can communicate the true value of this concept, which is deeply rooted in our identity. This award is a recognition that goes far beyond competitive results.I proudly remember the ties that bindItaly'ssporting heritage to fair play, thanks toEugenio Montiand his extraordinary gestures at the 1964 Innsbruck Games, which allowed him to receive the Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy dedicated to fair play, the first ever athlete to deserve this recognition. A precious legacy to be renewed  thanks to this award, which has now become a tradition."

Athletics offers a truly stellar lineup this year, starting withGianmarco Tamberi, world high jump champion inBudapest2023 and Olympic gold medal at theTokyo2021 Games.Nadia Battocletti, silver medallist in the 10.000 metres at theParis2024 Games, and high jump legendBlanka Vlasic, double world champion and Olympic silver and bronze medallist, will also be there. Triple jump starAndy Diaz, bronze medallist at theParis2024 Games and newly crowned indoor world champion,Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy, gold medallist in the discus throw at last year's Paralympic Games, are also among this year's awardees. Flying the flag for football will beDemetrio Albertini, World and European runner-up with the Italian National Azzurri team. Fencing will be represented on stage byArianna Errigo, one of the greatest foil athletes of all time, with a record of 10 world titles, 4 Olympic medals and 5 World Cup trophies.Paola Fantato, who has a remarkable sporting career and is winner of 8 Paralympic medals in archery across five different editions, will be captivating the Fair Play Menarini audiences who shall also have the chance to relive the moment when judokaAlice Bellandistepped onto the highest place on the podium at the last Olympic Games. Basketball enthusiasts will be delighted to see awardeeSasha Vujacic, two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers on stage whilstGuido Meda, the unmistakable voice of MotoGP who has been thrilling Italian fans for years, will be this year's awardee in the sports journalism category.

Alongside the great champions there are alsoNicola Nardo,Michele Vivalda,andAlessandro Bugli, three budding talents who, at today's press conference at CONI, received the"Young Athletes"Fair Play Menarini Award, dedicated to outstanding acts of sportsmanship shown by the younger generations.

Following on from today's press conference, the spotlight will be onJune 26inFlorence, when theSpecial Fiamme Gialle"Study and Sport"Awardwill be presented. The city ofFlorence, birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, will also host the traditionalgala dinneronWednesday, July 2nd, in the unique setting ofPiazzale Michelangelo.

The Award ceremony is set to be held on the evening ofThursday, July 3rd, at the thousand-year-old"gem"of theRoman Theatre in Fiesole. The partnership between the Fair Play Menarini International Award andSky TG24continues for the 29th edition giving coverage of event. Hosts of the Award ceremony will beRachele Sangiuliano,Michele Cagiano, andOmar Schillaci, who shall be enchanting the audience alongside fellow journalistFederico Buffa.

"Listening to the stories of these champions, discovering the actions that have allowed them to become role models, reliving their sporting feats: all this will be an extraordinary opportunity to foster the deepest meaning of sport– declaredValeria Speroni CardiandFilippo Paganelli, Board Members of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation –Our hope is that the integrity and the achievements of these exceptional athletes will convey the core values of loyalty and commitment, which sport continues to embody, to future generations".

TheIstituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturaleis an Institutional Partner of the 29th Fair Play Menarini International Award, whilstSustenium,Frecciarossa,Estra, andAdiacentare partners of the initiative.

To learn more about the protagonists, relive the most exciting moments, and stay up to date on all the news, visit the official website https://www.fairplaymenarini.com/enas well as the Award's social channels onInstagram,FacebookandYouTube.

SOURCE Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite