Getting to know one another and comparing notes in order to grow together, taking into account the differences between the various disciplines but with the common goal of raising the profile of Italian sport. The Aula Magna of the CONI “Giulio Onesti” Olympic Preparation Centre in Rome hosted the Assembly of the CONI National Technical Commission. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, methodologies, and principles with esteemed experts in the field, all united under the Italian flag. CONI President Giovanni Malagò opened the meeting: “We are in the heart of the highest sporting level. In this Centre athletes sleep, eat, train and study. Here, there are the athletes who represent our country, CONI, the Italia Team. And here Medicine and Science are deeply connected.” There followed a reference to the activities of the Olympic Committee: “A few years ago, CONI was responsible for organising the Olympic Games, the Mediterranean Games – and little else. Now we are perpetually campaigning to support these activities: the Youth Olympic Games have arrived, there are also the European events, which are of great value – sometimes even for Olympic qualification. And at continental level there are new youth events too. Our structure is under a lot of stress, but we continue to operate with a smile. We are used to improving, to perfecting our activities. The results of the last few years,” concluded Malagò, “encompassing the Olympic Games and the World and European Championships, have been sensational. Once again this year we are by far the best in Europe. But this situation will not go on for long: we are closed in many regards, most notably from a demographic aspect. We get little help from schools. We have three things in our favour: amateur sports associations and clubs; coaches and their skills; our Olympic Preparation. We have to defend our resources tooth and nail. The bar is always higher. Amateur clubs are not supported and the latest decrees do not help coaches. We must continue the fight.” Next up was Carlo Mornati, Secretary General of CONI, who emphasised that events like today's will not be one-offs: “Congratulations to the Technical Commission. These are opportunities for exchanging views that have a goal: to bring the technical managers of the federations closer together by osmosis. Relationships are created, ideas are exchanged, people get to know each other. In this way we can all do well at the multidisciplinary events we face. The goal is to start again with a single school, retracing what Giulio Onesti did: we want to spread knowledge and culture together with you, there will be a scientific strand and a managerial strand”. Proud and determined, Orazio Arancio, President of the Steering Committee of the CONI National Technical Commission, then spoke: “Our intention is to give coaches a new centrality that must go beyond the athlete.” His words were endorsed by Cecilia D'Angelo, Head of the CONI Territorial Directorate,: “Coaches hold the fate of a large part of Italian sport in their hands. You are educators, trainers and coaches. You have great responsibility, and year after year you continue to professionalise. We want to train new young coaches, as well as new young athletes, and, to this end, integration between disciplines is fundamental. And we have to get young people enthusiastic about sport. As far as schools are concerned, we have resumed the relationship with coaches and have asked the federations for a tailor-made training plan for local areas. Regional schools must provide this service. CONI Centres, Educamp and the Trofeo CONI are fundamental events for youngsters. Let us work for the development of future sport.” Kelum Perera, Secretary of the Italian Cricket Federation and member of the CONI National Council in a coaching quota role, spoke about the training and skills of coaches: “Today's world moves at the speed of light. Staying up-to-date and doing training is crucial to develop skills. Today, being a coach also means having other skills beyond the purely technical. New technologies and tools support us. We must have communication skills, know-how to solve problems, be a leader, adapt to change and have ethical and professional skills. And we need to study.” Then it was the turn of the former Olympic athletes, starting with Giulia Quintavalle, judo Olympic medallist and member of the CONI National Council in a coaching quota role, who focused on youth sport: “Athletic development contributes to enriching a young athlete's movement, coordination and cognitive skills, taking into account factors such as biological age, individual growth and the risk of childhood diseases. Early specialisation prevents continuous growth: it is only necessary during a second phase of an athlete's training”. She was followed by Valentina Turisini, Olympic silver medallist and shooting coach, Vice President of the Steering Committee of the CONI National Technical Commission and a CONI national advisor. Her speech focused on the presence of women in the technical arena: “In Paris 2024 there will be gender parity for athletes, but women should also be represented at other levels of leadership. Women train almost exclusively other women, youngsters and children: this is the situation in Europe and Italy. To change things we need men to contribute. Together we can do it.” And Daniele Molmenti, Olympic medallist and now technical director of the National Slalom Canoe Team, as well as a member of the CONI National Technical Commission, added: "Why could a top athlete become a good coach? Primarily due to their extensive competitive experience and familiarity with challenges. The social aspect is also relevant: a former champion generates movement, attraction, interest. The cultural aspect is also significant: someone who goes from performing to educating must study. And from the economic point of view, a champion who becomes a coach provides the maximum return on the investment made by the federation and those who invested in their career.” Daniela Isetti, a member of the Executive Board of the International Cycling Union and of the Steering Committee of the CONI National Technical Commission, focused instead on the social value of sport: “As coaches we are educators, with a great responsibility towards youngsters. Sport and inclusion complement and drive each other.” Prof. Valter Borellini and Prof. Nicola Setti, on the other hand, presented the multimedia project “Coach-Parent Relationship Guide: the Relationship with Parents 2.0”, divided into video snippets, each lasting approximately 15 minutes. These resources are accessible to the Steering Committee of the National Technical Commission for all Italian sports coaches. They aim to offer ideas, methods, and tools for establishing effective relational and partnership processes with parents, thereby contributing to the development of athletes across various levels and age groups. In closing, Andrea Mancino, President of the Italian Billiard and Bowling Federation and President of the CONI Fiscal Commission, addressed the issue of the impact of the sports labour reform on the role of the coach.