Meeting no. 244 of the CONI National Council convened this morning at 11:00am – at the Foro Italico – to discuss the following agenda:

1) Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 26 February 2016: The minutes were approved unanimously.

2) Communications by President: Malagò opened the discussions by commemorating the protagonists of the sporting world who have departed in the past two months stressing the importance of the results obtained by the Italian athletes in the same period. The President then congratulated Francesco Ricci Bicci for his confirmation at the head of ASOIF, and commended Flavio Roda, President of FISI, for the extraordinary results achieved throughout the season (4 World Cups in 4 disciplines). Best wishes were instead expressed to Sergio Mignardi, President of the Hockey Federation, for a quick recovery after he was injured in a road accident. The investiture of the standard-bearer was subsequently celebrated: there was major agreement over the choice of Federica Pellegrini, nominated the day after the retirement from competitive sports activities of Valentina Vezzali, last Italian standard-bearer in the Summer Olympics. On June 22, the ceremony of the presentation of the flag will be held at the Quirinale Palace with Federica Pellegrini and Martina Caironi.

The President stressed the good relations shared with the Government, which is currently working on the distribution of TV rights and on the complex issues regarding the law on professionalism of 1981. It is necessary to consider, in fact, that the female athletes are demanding a formal recognition of juridical nature. Regarding 2024, we proceed with common intentions: the 4 days spent in Lausanne with Montezemolo and the Committee’s staff, during the SportAccord elections, have served to bring forward an excellent relational work. In the coming days, moreover, a series of consultations will take place with all the mayoral candidates to talk about issues concerning said candidacy. The question of sports events in Italy was then broached: a letter by the IOC has been received urging not to organize further events in our Country before September 2017, with the exception of those already scheduled or foreseen, to avoid conditioning the candidacy.

After discussing the “Sport e Periferie” project, with the purposely instituted Committee that is completing the assessment of around 2000 applications received, the delicate issue of doping was tackled, in reference to the positive testing of Niccolò Mornati, a circumstance that has hurt the President’s feelings and made him reflect. For this reason, it was announced that, at the end of his mandate, Malagò will not stand for re-election at the head of the Aniene, to avoid any kind of interpretation of the role. It was also pointed out that – at the Board meeting – Carlo Mornati handed in his delegations relative to his role as Deputy Secretary General and Olympic Training Manager, including that of Head of Mission in Rio. The Board unanimously rejected such hypothesis, reasserting full support to Mornati and expressing appreciation for his accomplishments. The President also stated how this occurrence confirms the effectiveness of the activities conducted by the anti-doping body.

Malagò reported the nominations of the new BoD of Coni Servizi for the 2016-2018 period which is thus composed: Franco Chimenti, President, Alberto Miglietta, Francesco Parlato, Giovanna Boda and Annarita Balzani, Directors. The proposal will be brought to the attention of the Assembly to be convened on May 11.

Manco and Binaghi were also thanked for endorsing the agreement concerning the UISP-FIT controversy. Lastly, the 2016 CONI trophy will be held in Sardinia with the participation of 5 thousand children. It was announced that an extraordinary meeting of the National Council for the reformulation of the 2016 budget, also with reference to Antidoping, will be held on May 24. Input to the President’s report was delivered by: Franco Carraro (IOC member), Giovanni Petrucci (Basketball), Riccardo Agabio (Gymnastics), Raffaello Leonardo, Sabatino Aracu (Hockey and Skating), Ugo Salines (Representative of Sports Promotion Bodies), Vincenzo Manco (Sports Promotion Bodies), Angelo Binaghi (Tennis), Riccardo Viola (Representative of Peripheral Bodies), Vincenzo Medugno (Representative of Coaches), Sandro Rossi (Representative of Associated Disciplines), Angelo Sticchi Damiani (ACI), Alberto De Nigro (Auditor), Antonio Rossi (Representative of Athletes), Alberto Miglietta (Badminton).

2b) CONI Statute - Art. 2; Par. 4 – Homophobia: Unanimously approved

3) F.S.N.- D.S.A. - E.P.S. activities: the Council unanimously approved the deliberations concerning: regulations for special procedures in pursuance of art. 54 of the Code of Sporting Justice, UEFA Licences arbitration body regulations, extension of the role of Special Commissioner of the Italian Twirling Federation, maximum annual limit in number of non-EU athletes from 1185 to 1160, regulations of the Meritorious Associations. 

4) Administrative affairs and CONI balance: CONI 2015 annual financial statements were unanimously approved. There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 12:55.