“In 11 sports there are passes for Paris 2024 up for grabs, nine other disciplines also offer a large points haul towards the Olympic rankings: they will be challenging competitions, Krakow 2023 is the first real test of the season.” These were the statements made by Giovanni Malagò at a press conference at Casa Italia in Krakow. The CONI President was welcomed to the Italian headquarters of the European Games 2023, the third edition of the multi-sport event dedicated to the continent’s Olympic Committees: “Casa Italia is now a real trademark,” underlined Malagò. “It’s fantastic. Watching the Italia Team athletes in their official kits, united, brings me closer to sport again.”

“The presence of Gianmarco Tamberi in the athletics team,” continued the CONI president, “gives prestige to our overall participation and makes us very proud. Athletics is the queen of the Games and he is the reigning Olympic champion. Here we have seven Olympic champions (Mauro Nespoli, Jessica Rossi, Gabriele Rossetti, Gianmarco Tamberi, Filippo Tortu, Fausto Desalu and Lorenzo Patta): we want to do better than in Minsk 2019, where we won 41 medals. We have what it takes. And there are also new sports. I expect a very good result from the hosts Poland. I also think that the small countries will win numerous medals: there will be a greater fragmentation than in the past. This challenging period for Jacobs? Today in the Italia Team there is a real sense of team spirit. Marcell experiences problems that any athlete could experience, but he is more exposed because of his popularity. I would like to add that we are also wholeheartedly behind the National Under-21 football team, which is ready to play in the European Championships, which also counts as a qualification round towards Paris 2024.”

“The European Games in Krakow are a unique event,” said CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati. “The programme is completely new compared to the first two editions, and here in Poland the passes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are also up for grabs.”