In the conference room of the Foro Italico Swimming Pools, the president of the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), Paolo Barelli, presented the 61st edition of the Settecolli Trophy IP – International Swimming Competition, scheduled to take place at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome from Thursday, June 26th to Saturday, June 28th. At the symbolic ribbon-cutting, also present were the CEO of Sport e Salute Diego Nepi, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida, the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, the Head of the Sport Department Flavio Siniscalchi, the Italian national swimming team’s technical director Cesare Butini, and the head coach of the Italian water polo team Alessandro Campagna, who on Thursday at 9:15 PM will face Croatia in the penultimate pre-World Championship test match (live on Rai Sport HD). The anchor and moderator was Olympic champion from Sydney 2000 Massimiliano Rosolino, ambassador for the Italian Swimming Federation.
Welcoming all participants and hosting the event was the president of the Italian Swimming Federation, Paolo Barelli. “The Foro Italico is an extraordinary sports habitat, envied around the world. The Stadio del Nuoto pool is considered by everyone—managers, athletes, and international coaches—to be the most beautiful of its kind. I would first like to greet our national swimming teams with technical director Cesare Butini and our water polo team with head coach Alessandro Campagna, who tomorrow, at the end of the Settecolli Trophy finals, will face Croatia in a prestigious match, the penultimate test before the World Championships in Singapore. I gratefully greet all the authorities present. I will mention two of them symbolically, to represent them all: the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi and the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida.”
“The Settecolli Trophy,” continued the head of FIN, “now in its 61st edition, is an event of sporting excellence: we are hosting about 800 athletes from 32 countries, including 30 Olympic and World medalists. Athletes from the Russian federation are also expected, competing individually, with the necessary authorizations from the IOC and international federations. But this event is much more than a sports competition: it is an opportunity to send important messages. Proper nutrition: together with the Ministry of Agriculture, promoter of a campaign for food education, we will launch a joint initiative to promote the principles of a healthy diet and sporting lifestyle; the promotion of Made in Italy: thanks to collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE – Italian Trade Agency, the Settecolli Trophy is supported as a symbol of Italian excellence worldwide, alongside the Italian Open Tennis and the Golden Gala of athletics; social inclusion: water sports represent a 360-degree opportunity for inclusion—motor, sporting, and competitive. This year, the Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation will also be present, with its extraordinary athletes who have won medals at the Paralympic Games and World Championships. Their example fully embodies the values of sport and water; water safety and culture: swimming means growing, being educated in sport, becoming champions in life and, above all, learning to save oneself and others. For this reason, in collaboration with SIB (Sindacato Italiano Balneari), we have launched a project for beach safety and lifeguard training, which will fully start next season.”
“The Settecolli Trophy,” concludes Barelli, “therefore represents not only an international showcase for our athletes and our sports clubs, whom I sincerely thank, but also a container of values, messages, and projects that go far beyond competition.”
THE GREETING OF THE MINISTER FOR SPORT AND YOUTH ANDREA ABODI.
“My presence here is a renewed testimony of the love for water, and for swimming in particular, which is part of my life. A dimension that has made me grow, shaped me, and represents a part of my life. The work we are doing with President Paolo Barelli and other government colleagues, trying to provide contributions for promotion, is precisely to offer the opportunity to an ever-wider base to practice sport, especially at the youth level. I renew my thanks to all the clubs and associations that every day open a pool and, with great sacrifice and commitment, guarantee the service for boys and girls of all ages, from the youngest to those who reach their senior years. Thanks also to the athletes for all their commitment and passion. It is thanks to them that the Italian flag excels in all international competitions, demonstrating a school that is the result of the quality of the Federation’s organizational model. Thanks to the entire Federation and above all to President Paolo Barelli for making the Settecolli Trophy, now at its 61st edition, inclusive. The next three days, in fact, include differentiated programs, some of which look beyond the competitive dimension, because our competition as public institutions is to make the principles that swimming represents and the issues that swimming offers available for the benefit of the entire community, and to be able to respond to them. This is an opportunity to relaunch the challenge and take responsibility, as is right for those who have government roles at all levels.”
THE TESTIMONY OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND FORESTRY FRANCESCO LOLLOBRIGIDA.
“Today we have the opportunity to promote the indissoluble link between sports activity, swimming, and proper nutrition. Hippocrates once said that by combining swimming and good food, one would live longer. Centuries later, we reiterate the same position and, with the commitment of the government, we want to transmit this principle to the younger generations; we often talk about excessive health spending, but we know well that we cannot reduce hospitals, doctors or nurses. What we can and must do is reduce the number of patients, help people live well and live longer thanks to the coexistence of sport and proper nutrition. I thank President Paolo Barelli and the Italian Swimming Federation for their commitment and the extraordinary results achieved.”
THE GREETING OF THE CEO OF SPORT E SALUTE DIEGO NEPI.
“Thank you, President Paolo Barelli, for clearly illustrating all the areas in which the Italian Swimming Federation is active, going far beyond high-level competition: the daily work of your coaches, the training commitment, the promotion of the values of sport. This means something important: today in Italy, beyond sporting successes, sport has become a solid structure, a true pyramid based on a broad and inclusive foundation. Sport today is no longer confined to the competitive sphere, but touches all aspects of our daily lives, and this makes us even more responsible, especially in light of the public policies implemented in the last two years. My thoughts today also go to all the managers of sports facilities, who every day fight among a thousand difficulties, from energy issues to management costs. But the real challenge is to make sport accessible to everyone, at sustainable prices, in every Italian city. This is also the challenge of Sport e Salute. We are proud to have been partners of the Italian Swimming Federation for the Settecolli Trophy for 12 years, to have worked for many years with your coaches, your managers, and with everyone who makes the success of events like this possible every day.”
THE WORDS OF THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SWIMMING TEAM CESARE BUTINI.
“First of all, I greet the authorities present. The Settecolli has consolidated its position as a leader in the international calendar over the years. This year, as President Paolo Barelli recalled, we are many, about 750 athletes, a total of 1,500 race entries and 32 nations; a massive presence that confirms the goodness of the movement and our organization. But above all, there is a major novelty: the presence of neutral athletes who, in my opinion, are very important because they bring us back to that role of solidarity and inclusivity in sport.”
“It is clear that in our situation,” continues Butini, “competing with important athletes is fundamental both for those already qualified and for completing the team for the World Championships. We are also looking at the new quadrennium, which has just begun. Our athletes range from 18 to 30 years old and we are definitely determined to continue this synergy between more experienced and younger athletes. I am sure that this will definitely be an important edition. Lastly, I would like to recall the Federation’s willingness to combine other aquatic disciplines with the Settecolli event. Italy-Croatia tomorrow night is certainly an important appointment that ensures this splendid federation, composed of five Olympic disciplines, is exalted in the right way.” Alongside Butini, Olympic champions Nicolò Martinenghi and Thomas Ceccon, world and European champion Simona Quadarella, and Benedetta Pilato, bronze medalist in Doha, greeted the audience.
THE INTERVENTION OF THE HEAD COACH OF THE SETTEBELLO ALESSANDRO CAMPAGNA.
“Italy-Croatia will never be a friendly match but a game that will always see two water polo powerhouses face off: a big match. I therefore hope that the Stadio del Nuoto will be full of fans on Thursday evening, because they will witness a great show, as happened last year against France. In less than a month, the World Championships will begin in Singapore and our goal is obviously to present a Settebello that can always be a protagonist.” Alongside head coach Campagna, representing their teammates, the Roman Azzurri Gianmarco Nicosa, Nicholas Presciutti, Giacomo Cannella, and Matteo Iocchi Gratta greeted those present.
The president of the ICE Agency, Matteo Zoppas, sent a video message; the president of the Sindacato Italiano Balneari Antonio Capacchione and the Marketing & Innovation Director of IP – Gruppo Api Daniele Longo, title sponsor of the event for the second consecutive year, spoke during the morning. In the front rows, a large representation of the national swimming and water polo teams.
The press conference was an opportunity to delve into a series of social and institutional campaigns with the Italian Swimming Federation and its Azzurri as protagonists: the spot created in collaboration with ISMEA (Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare) to promote proper nutrition, and in particular Italian nuts, was previewed; the “Sport and Innovation Made in Italy” project, which encourages Italian excellence worldwide through the strategic partnership between Sport e Salute and the ICE Agency and the collaboration of FIN, FITP, and FIDAL, was revisited; the agreement with the Sindacato Balneari (SIB) for the valorization of the role of lifeguards and their social role in protecting citizens, also the subject of TV and social spots, was discussed; the Federation’s strong commitment to the protection of marine ecosystems and the agreement with the Zoomarine water park on the occasion of World Oceans Day and other joint activities aimed at spreading advice for responsible bathing were reaffirmed.
The event—organized in collaboration with Sport e Salute and under the patronage of the Lazio Region and Rome Capital, with the support of the Ministries for Sport and Youth, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry—will see the participation of about 700 athletes representing 32 nations and many international stars such as Olympic champions Florian Wellbrock and Matthew Richards, Games medalists like Noè Ponti, Apostolos Christou, Isabel Marie Gose, Benjamin Proud, and Tomoru Honda, and over 30 foreign athletes with multiple world medals who will challenge our champions led by Thomas Ceccon, Nicolò Martinenghi, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Simona Quadarella, and Benedetta Pilato. The participation of FINP athletes, including Paralympic medalist Manuel Bortuzzo (bronze in 100m breaststroke SB4), has also been confirmed.
Mascot Finny, Spotify playlist, and Coach of the Year award.
During the conference, the Italian Swimming Federation’s mascot, Finny, was also presented in the Lifeguard version; the Settecolli Vol. II playlist, published on Spotify, with songs chosen by the champions of the 2024 edition; and the “Alberto Castagnetti” Coach of the Year award, now in its tenth edition, with finalists Fabrizio Antonelli, Alberto Burlina, and Marco Giovanni Pedoja.
Numbers and nations.
There are 674 athletes (364 men and 310 women) for a total of 1,517 race entries from 32 nations: in addition to a selection of neutral athletes, Italy, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary, and Uruguay.
Where to watch the races.
The finals of the 61st edition of the Settecolli Trophy IP – International Swimming Competition will be broadcast live on Rai 2 starting at 6:00 PM. The heats starting at 9:00 AM will be visible on the Italian Swimming Federation’s YouTube channel. The Italian national team for the 61st Settecolli IP is composed of 14 women and 24 men: Lisa Angiolini (Carabinieri/Virtus Buonconvento), Matilde Biagiotti (Fiamme Oro/RN Florentia), Arianna Castiglioni (Fiamme Gialle/Team Insubrika), Costanza Cocconcelli (Fiamme Gialle/NC Azzurra 91), Sara Curtis (Esercito/Roero), Francesca Fangio (Esercito/In Sport Rane Rosse), Sara Franceschi (Esercito/Livorno Aquatics), Anita Gastaldi (Carabinieri/V02), Emma Virginia Menicucci (Esercito/CC Aniene), Sofia Morini (Esercito/NC Azzurra 91), Benedetta Pilato and Simona Quadarella (CC Aniene), Giulia Ramatelli (Esercito/Aurelia Nuoto), Chiara Tarantino (Fiamme Gialle/In Sport Rane Rosse), Christian Bacico (Esercito/Como Nuoto), Federico Burdisso (Esercito), Giacomo Carini (Fiamme Gialle/Vittorino da Feltre), Giovanni Carraro (Fiamme Oro/Riviera Nuoto), Giovanni Caserta (Esercito/In Sport Rane Rosse), Thomas Ceccon (Fiamme Oro/Leosport), Simone Cerasuolo (Fiamme Oro/Imolanuoto), Paolo Conte Bonin (Fiamme Oro/Team Veneto), Carlos D'Ambrosio (Fiamme Gialle/IC Bentegodi), Davide Dalla Costa (Fiamme Gialle/Team Veneto), Luca De Tullio, Nicolò Martinenghi (CC Aniene), Leonardo Deplano (Carabinieri/CC Aniene), Manuel Frigo (Fiamme Oro/Team Veneto), Matteo Lamberti (Carabinieri/GAM Team), Christian Mantegazza (Fiamme Gialle/Team Trezzo), Davide Marchello (Esercito/Aurelia Nuoto), Filippo Megli (Carabinieri/RN Florentia), Alessandro Miressi (Fiamme Oro/CN Torino), Gregorio Paltrinieri (Fiamme Oro/Coopernuoto), Alessandro Ragaini (Carabinieri/Team Marche), Alberto Razzetti (Fiamme Gialle/Genova Nuoto My Sport), Ludovico Blu Art Viberti (CN Torino), Lorenzo Zazzeri (Esercito/RN Florentia).
On the staff with technical director Cesare Butini are the coaches Alberto Burlina, Claudio Rossetto, Stefano Franceschi, Matteo Giunta, Fabrizio Antonelli, and Thomas Maggiora; doctors Lorenzo Marugo and Tiziana Balducci; physiotherapists Stefano Amirante, Alessandro Del Piero, and Paola Moreschi; physical trainer Marco Lancissi; and video analyst Ivo Ferretti.
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