United by Sports: Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors chase the Olympic dream

The Olympic Games stand as the most prestigious sporting event worldwide, steeped in a rich tradition that traces back to ancient Greece. They uniquely bring together nations and athletes from around the globe to celebrate brotherhood and fair play.

Elite athletes converge for this remarkable event every four years, embodying the Olympic spirit of excellence, friendship, and respect.

As we approach the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games, scheduled for Friday, July 26, the qualification process has just wrapped up. This year, over 10,500 athletes from 206 nations will gather in France.

Among the 403 Italian athletes who have qualified for this global event are many Ambassadors of the Fair Play Menarini Award – athletes of exceptional character, eager to give their best in honor of their national colors.

The recipient of the Fair Play Menarini Award 2023 in the ‘A Smile for Life’ category, Larissa Iapichino, is one of the standout Italian athletes. Fresh off her silver medal win at the European Championships in Rome, she is now considered a leading contender in the long jump.

Roberto Rigali, a key member of the 4x100m relay team that won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, was recognized in 2024 in the ‘Tenacity and Fair Play’ category. With his team already celebrating a European gold and a World silver medal in the past ten months, they are now focused on achieving a podium finish at the upcoming Olympics in France.

The 2022 Fair Play Menarini Award winner in the ‘Social Values of Sport’ category, Vito Dell’Aquila, is among the first to secure one of the coveted spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The taekwondo athlete from the Carabinieri sports group already made a significant impact on the international scene in 2021 by winning a gold medal. At that time, he amazed the world and is now eager to replicate that incredible achievement.

Meanwhile, Alessandra Perilli, who made history by securing San Marino’s first Olympic medal, is aiming for another Olympic triumph. The clay target shooter, honored with the Fair Play Menarini Award 2022 in the ‘Promotion of Sport’ category, is getting ready to match her impressive performance at the Tokyo Olympics in the upcoming games.

Swimmer Benedetta Pilato, honored with the Fair Play Menarini 2020 in the ‘Role Model for Youth’ category, has emerged as an exceptional talent during the recent Olympic Games. At just 15 years old, she qualified for Tokyo 2020 and set a new Italian record. Now, she is preparing to take on an exciting new challenge and fully unleash her incredible potential.

The upcoming sports event in Paris promises to be an exciting showcase featuring not only talented athletes but also their dedicated coaches. Among the distinguished figures are few Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors, such as Andrea Giani, who received the Sustenium Special Award in 2019, coach of the men’s volleyball national team of France that holds the Olympic title from Tokyo 2020;  Alessandro Campagna, head coach of the Italian national water polo team, awarded as a ‘Legendary Figure’ in 2020; Daniele Bennati, head coach of the national cycling team, honored in the ‘Fair Play as a Way of Life’ category in 2019; Ferdinando De Giorgi and Julio Velasco, awarded in the ‘Fair Play Volleyball’ category in 2010 and as a ‘Legendary Figure’ in 1998, respectively.

Their mission as coaches is to inspire their teams to achieve new and memorable successes in Italian sports.

After the Olympic flame dims on August 11, Paris won’t have to wait long for its next major sporting spectacle. The Paralympic Games commence on August 24 and continue until September 8, showcasing extraordinary talent and resilience. We are excited to announce that many Menarini Fair Play Ambassadors will be participating in these games. Stay tuned for our upcoming article, we will spotlight these remarkable individuals as we prepare for a thrilling competition schedule.

 

We send our warmest wishes for success to all the Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors!