The Fair Play Menarini International Award press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024. This prestigious event recognizes sports legends who stand out for their ethics, loyalty, and respect. 

The unveiling of the new Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors will take place at the Salone d’Onore of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) in Rome. The ambassadors will be celebrated on July 4 at the closing ceremony as shining examples of integrity in sports and everyday life.

Read also: 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award: dates, locations, and news about the latest edition

For the second consecutive year, the Fair Play Menarini International Award is spotlighting young athletes. Established in 2023, the Fair Play Youth Award celebrates young individuals who demonstrate remarkable sportsmanship.

The 2024 winners are Nicolò Vacchelli, Gioele Gallicchio, and Asd Golfobasket.

The award recipients were honored for putting aside their personal ambitions to assist a struggling opponent or to adhere to a game rule often overlooked by others.

One such example is Nicolò Vacchelli, a soccer player from ASD Esperia in Cremona. Born in 2010, Nicolò was involved in a pivotal incident last October when the referee mistakenly awarded a penalty to his team. Without hesitating, Nicolò informed the referee that he had not been fouled, prompting the official to reverse the decision in favor of the opposing team.

10 year-old sprinter Gioele Gallicchio was honored for his sportsmanship at the 2023 Athletics Novices Grand Gala in Lucca. In the middle of his 400-meter race, he noticed a competitor fall and stopped to help him up, sacrificing his lead and chance of victory.

The third recipient of the 2024 Menarini Fair Play Youth Award is the entire Under 14 girls’ Asd Golfobasket team. In January, during a long trip, the basketball players hosted their opponents in their homes. This generous act reduced accommodation costs and allowed them to play two matches, compensating for a previously canceled match due to bad weather. 

“Fair play is the common thread that connects these young athletes with the champions who will be honored”, state Antonello Biscini, Valeria Speroni Cardi, and Ennio Troiano, members of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation Board. “There’s no need to look at the achievements of international stars to see the values of fair play: these three stories are proof of that”.