Happy Birthday Settecolli! The world’s oldest swimming trophy renews itself every year, showcasing top Italian and international champions. The 60th edition of the Settecolli IP - International Swimming Trophy is eagerly anticipated from Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23 at the Stadio del Nuoto, known as "the most beautiful pool in the world." Approximately 1,000 athletes from 52 nations will compete.

Italy will participate with its full National Team for the last test before the Paris 2024 Games. The Settebello, the world's vice-champions, will play against France on Friday evening, with the hosts preparing for their Olympic challenge.

From the Conference Room at the Foro Italico Pools in Rome, the president of the Italian Swimming Federation, Paolo Barelli, officially presented the event alongside the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi; the Director General of the ICE Agency - Italian Trade & Investment Agency for the "Sport and Promotion of Made in Italy" project, Lorenzo Galanti; the Councillor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion of Rome Capital, Alessandro Onorato; the Technical Director of the Italian national team, Cesare Butini; the head coach of the national water polo team, Sandro Campagna, accompanied by captain Francesco Di Fulvio and goalkeeper Marco Del Lungo; and champions Gregorio Paltrinieri, Simona Quadarella, Sarah Sjöström, and Daniel Wiffen. Also present were the President of the Italian Paralympic Federation, Roberto Valori, with Alessia Scortechini, Paralympic champion with the 4x100 freestyle relay and world and European champion; Daniele Longo, Marketing & Innovation Director of IP - Gruppo Api, the event's title sponsor. The president of Sport and Health, Marco Mezzaroma, and CEO Diego Nepi Molineris, supported the national football team in Germany against European champions Spain, and participated via video message. Present in the hall were Italian athletes Thomas Ceccon, Lorenzo Zazzeri, Nicolò Martinenghi, Alessandro Miressi, Leonardo Deplano, Manuel Frigo, and Paolo Conte Bonin, with Massimiliano Rosolino moderating.

I want to thank all the present authorities, the athletes who will put on a show over these three days, the fifty-two delegations, and our long-standing and new sponsors who have joined the Italian Swimming Federation family: IP, the naming sponsor of Settecolli, and all ours Federation's sponsors, which re-engages with our world after the exciting European Championships in Rome 2022," said president Paolo Barelli. "I am honored to highlight the synergy with the ICE Agency for the 'Sport and Promotion of Made in Italy' project. The attention given to the International Swimming Trophy demonstrates the cultural value of the meeting, which attracts many industrial assets of the country, transcending the purely sporting aspects communicated through the deeds of our champions.""The event will also be an opportunity to promote further initiatives, including 'Water and Life,' which aims to reach young people with knowledge of water culture and safety within activities to train lifeguards and support their work along Italy's 8,000 kilometers of coastline," continued Barelli. "This is the 60th edition of Settecolli, a historic moment. Not many international sports events have such longevity. Furthermore, on Friday evening at 9:00 PM, Settecolli will be enriched by the pre-Olympic water polo test match between Italy and France, an important game just weeks before the Olympics. We will also host FINP paralympics athletes, including Manuel Bortuzzo, once one of our athletes. Settecolli, once again, guarantees a spectacle and emotions. Enjoy everyone."

"I feel like I am at a family reunion because I have climbed these steps and dived into the Foro Italico pool many times," said Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi. "I have an unconditional love for swimming and hope it can grow even more with the 'Water and Life' project. This is a transit stage for the Olympics, and I will be present tomorrow evening for Italy-France. I have great affection and respect for all the athletes' commitment and hope to see them competitive in Paris in a few weeks. I appreciate the Italian Swimming Federation's daily work across Italy, supporting clubs that open pools every morning despite all the difficulties. I particularly appreciate the 'Water and Life' project: we need to educate ourselves, have a water culture, an element to be respected to respect life. It is unacceptable that people still drown every day. This project needs support to ensure everyone's safety, with the hope of bringing swimming into schools as in France, as education starts there."

"Settecolli is another international sports event hosted by Rome, the eleventh in a few months, contributing to a tourism revival in the city and resulting in significant economic benefits and employment," highlighted Rome's Sports Councillor, Alessandro Onorato. "I now look forward to witnessing three days of great swimming at the Stadio del Nuoto." Sport and Innovation Made in Italy. Italian sport and innovation as the best ambassadors of Italian quality worldwide.

The "Sport and Innovation Made in Italy" project continues its journey at the 60th edition of the International Swimming Trophy - Settecolli, scheduled in Rome at the Foro Italico pools from June 20 to 23. It is the third act of this project after the Italian Open tennis tournament and the European Athletics Championships Rome 2024."Sport and Innovation Made in Italy," born from the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ITA (Italian Trading Agency), ICE (Institute for Foreign Trade), and Sport e Salute, has generated a valuable synergy between the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL), and the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN). A structured campaign to promote and communicate Italian excellence has emerged, with targeted initiatives planned over the coming months until the sports week scheduled for September.From Friday, June 21, from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM, the main facade of the Foro Italico Pools will feature a light show, a high-tech structural animation that enhances the building with dynamic and immersive light displays.** The show setup was created by Sport e Salute and the Italian Swimming Federation, in collaboration with an Italian company specializing in innovative and technological installations."Sport and Innovation Made in Italy" will also conclude the activities of Settecolli 2024: on Monday, June 24, at 10:00 AM, in the Red Room of the Foro Italico Pools, the first "Workshop on Sport and Innovation" will be held, a seminar to share the status, scenarios, and prospects of Italian and international Sport Tech as an opportunity for growth and development. This is an opportunity to explore how Italy is contributing to progress in the sports sector through technological innovations, new training methodologies, solutions for athletes' well-being, and more, with the presence of high-level professionals.The press conference for the presentation of the Settecolli trophy further delved into the project. "ICE is an agency dealing with exports," said ICE Director General Lorenzo Galanti. "Made in Italy now accounts for 30% of GDP, and exports are essential for the country's economy. Sports events can be wonderful vehicles for promoting Italian talent, quality, and success. For this reason, we have embarked on a project with Sport e Salute to promote the dynamism of the new generation of Italian sports worldwide. We have supported three events for these reasons: the Italian Open tennis tournament, the European Swimming Championships, and the 60th Settecolli, all hosted in the beautiful and evocative setting of the Foro Italico, another Italian gem."

IP Title Sponsor."I thank all those present, my team, and the advisors," emphasized IP Marketing & Innovation Director Daniele Longo. "Last year, we celebrated our 90th anniversary here, and for all these years, IP has been providing energy to all Italians. Like sport, it is a vehicle of energy and mobility throughout Italy. There is great affinity between sport and our environment. Swimming is the most practiced sport in Italy, allowing us to reach a large audience. Swimming has many values aligned with ours. We have taken on the responsibility of being a sponsor of this sport very seriously, and I wish the entire National Team the best of luck for the Olympics."

Words from Technical Director Cesare Butini: "I quote my predecessor, Alberto Castagnetti, who said that when you reach the top, you must wear a coat. Reaching the top is difficult, but staying there is even more challenging. The athletes are working well, and the coaches are very qualified. The news from abroad, from various trials, has shown us that there will be tough competition, but we are ready."

Words from Gregorio Paltrinieri: "I am pleased with the results of the recent European Championships in Belgrade and happy to be here at Settecolli. Despite being close to the Olympics, I could have considered skipping this event, but we decided to test ourselves. I am eager to compete against top-level athletes. Some of my greatest rivals are here, and I didn't want to miss it."

Words from Simona Quadarella: "Intermediate goals motivate me for the various seasons, and this year's World Championships have given me great encouragement for the Olympics. We have competed at very high levels, and this event is no exception. Competing at home is always a great emotion."

Words from Sarah Sjöström: "I have learned that it is important to enjoy every day of this journey. I have been to Settecolli more than fifteen times, the first in 2007, and it is always very nice."

Words from Daniel Wiffen:"This is my second time at Settecolli. It will be a great. It will be fun to challenge Greg on Sunday”.

Video Message from the President of Sport e Salute, Marco Mezzaroma. While in Germany with CEO Diego Nepi Molineris to support the national football team facing Spain tonight at 21:00, President Mezzaroma greeted all attendees with a video message. "The Foro Italico is once again hosting the International Settecolli Trophy, one of the main events in the annual sports calendar at what has increasingly become the gravitational center of sports in Italy. The pool, which will welcome top swimmers from around the world just weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is also the same pool where hundreds of young athletes train daily, dreaming of one day becoming stars at Settecolli. This is the great responsibility of top athletes: to be a reference point and source of inspiration for both young swimmers and the many masters who train in these waters every day."In recent weeks, Mezzaroma continued, "the Foro Italico has hosted other major events in prestigious disciplines: from the International Tennis Championships to the European Athletics Championships, and now the Major Premiere of padel, which runs concurrently with Settecolli, just a few meters from the Swimming Stadium. The sharing of the Foro Italico Park, with athletes from different disciplines mingling, represents the ultimate expression of sport. There is nothing more beautiful than a grand piazza where sport is the unifying factor and swimming stands out as a symbol of health and wellness. I extend a warm welcome to everyone at the Foro Italico, thank the Italian Swimming Federation for organizing this important event, and wish the best of luck to all participants."

Mascot Finny, Coach of the Year, and Spotify Playlist During the conference, several other announcements were made: the introduction of the Italian Swimming Federation's mascot, Finny; the Settecolli Vol. I playlist on Spotify, featuring tracks chosen by the champions of the 2023 edition; and the ninth edition of the Coach of the Year "Alberto Castagnetti" award, with finalists Alberto Burlina, Christian Minotti, and Marco Pedoja.

Water and Life The Italian Swimming Federation is the leading organization in Italy for promoting and regulating aquatic sports. Through its Lifesaving Section, it has always been committed to promoting water safety, training lifeguards, and updating its members through regular courses. This educational program aims to raise awareness and educate students about the importance of water safety, promoting responsible and conscious behavior. Water safety is a vital skill that all children should learn from a young age. Schools play a crucial role in teaching children basic skills to protect themselves in the water and prevent accidents. By participating in the project, students will benefit from increased awareness (understanding the risks associated with water and how to prevent them), practical skills (learning basic swimming and floating techniques), and fun and socialization (engaging in enjoyable activities and making new friends). The main goals of "Water and Life" are accident prevention, promotion of physical activity, development of swimming skills, education on safety, and fostering inclusion and diversity. The project includes various activities and educational content, such as theoretical and practical lessons and the use of teaching materials.

Numbers The event will see the participation of 876 athletes (477 men and 399 women) for a total of 2015 race entries from 52 countries: Italy, Argentina, Aruba, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cameroon, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Philippines, Georgia, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Scotland, United States, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Togo, Ukraine, Hungary, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Among them are many Olympic and world medalists such as Britain's Adam Peaty and Benjamin Proud, Laura Stephens and Freya Colbert, Tom Dean, Luke Greenbank, and James Guy, Japan's Yui Ohashi and Daiya Seto, the indomitable Hungarian Katinka Hosszú, Germany's Florian Wellbrock, the Dutch Arno Kamminga, Tes Schouten, Marrit Steenbergen, Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte, South Africa's Chad Le Clos, Siobhan Haughey from Hong Kong, Canada's Penny Oleksiak, among other international stars.

Schedule Heats start at 9:00, C finals at 16:00, pre-show at 17:15. A and B finals from 18:00. Heats, 800m, and 1500m freestyle will be held in ten lanes; A and B finals in eight lanes. C finals are reserved for Italian athletes only. An expected 20,000 spectators will fill the stands over the sold-out three days. The event also features the participation of FINP (52 Italians) and representatives from Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, and Turkey, all endorsed and recognized by World Para Swimming. An event within the event is the water polo test match between Italy and France on Friday 21 at 21:00, with free admission and live broadcast on Waterpolo Channel.

Photos by Giorgio Scala and Andrea Staccioli / DBM
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