Rome, December 2015 – A golden parade. Of a victorious Italy that projects the image of Italian excellence around the world. There were many, past, present, and future, sport expressed through a single denominator: victory. The customary award ceremony for the highest sporting honors took place this morning in the Sala delle Armi at the Foro Italico: the Collari d’Oro, the Stella al Merito Sportivo, and the Palma d’Oro for technical merit. Champions of all ages and eras, capable of writing history, the clearest expression of a movement that represents the fifth strongest force in the Olympic medal table of all time, across both summer and winter editions. The 2015 world champions and the Italian Olympians from 1948 to 1994, an emotional recap of memories and triumphs, in the presence of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The event, which opened with a welcome address from CONI President Giovanni Malagò, was also attended by Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee Luca Pancalli, CONI Board members Valentina Turisini and Fiona May, as well as a significant representation of Federal Presidents and various sports organizations. Present on behalf of FISE were President Vittorio Orlandi and General Secretary Walter Caporizzi.

An exceptional setting to pay well-deserved tribute to all living Olympians who have never received the honor established in 1995. During the same ceremony – broadcast live on Rai2 and RaiSport 1 – athletes, personalities, and companies who have particularly distinguished themselves throughout their careers and history were also honored, and the Gold Stars for sporting merit will be awarded at the same time.

Malagò greeted those present, emphasizing the importance of the successes achieved, which promote the country’s image, and thanking Prime Minister Renzi and the entire government for their constant and passionate support of the sporting world.  

 The award also went to three great personalities: Giorgio Armani, Gianni Letta, and Massimo Moratti. The launch of Rome 2024 was also special, with the President of the Promotion Committee, Luca di Montezemolo, the General Coordinator, Diana Bianchedi, and the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Capital, Francesco Paolo Tronca, and the awards ceremony for past Olympians and Paralympic gold medalists. The closing ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the great maestro Ezio Triccoli, founder of the highly decorated Jesi Fencing Club, and to the technical merits of the technical director of Canottaggio La Mura. A unique celebration for the ageless golden tricolor that proudly waves.
Equestrian sports were also present at the Golden Collars award ceremony, received by Olympic Eventing Champions Mauro Checcoli, Alessandro Argenton, Giuseppe Ravano, and Paolo Angioni from Tokyo 1964, and Federico Roman from Moscow 1980.

After the ceremony, the seven new commemorative plaques on the Walk of Fame were unveiled on Viale delle Olimpiadi, dedicated to Maurizio Damilano, Gianni De Magistris, Duilio Loi, Francesco Moser, Enrico Fabris, Armin Zoeggeler, and – motu proprio of the CONI President – Dorando Pietri.

GOLD COLLARS FOR SPORTING MERIT 2015

Matteo Castaldo, Marco Di Costanzo, Matteo Lodo, Giuseppe Vicino (Rowing – Coxless Four World Championships), Fabio Aru (Cycling – Vuelta), Frank Chamizo (Wrestling – Freestyle 4 kg category), Gregorio Paltrinieri (Swimming – 65 m freestyle), Emiliano Marsili (Boxing, Lightweight WBC Silver), Rossella Fiamingo (Fencing, Individual Epee), Giorgio Avola, Andrea Baldini, Andrea Cassarà, Daniele Garozzo (Fencing, Team Foil), Arianna Fontana (Ice Sports, Short Track 1500 m), Roland Fischnaller (Snowboarding, Parallel Slalom), Luca Matteotti (Snowboard Cross), Simone Bolelli, Fabio Fognini (Australian Open – Doubles), Flavia Pennetta (US Open), Francesca Clapcich and Giulia Conti (Sailing – 1500er FX World Championships). The honor was also awarded to Sara Errani for her doubles victory at Wimbledon 49.

GOLD COLLARS FOR OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC CHAMPIONS FROM 1948 TO 1994

LONDON 1948: Giuseppe Moioli and Franco Faggi (Rowing). HELSINKI 1952: Mino De Rossi and Guido Messina (Cycling), Aureliano Bolognesi (Boxing), Irene Camber (Fencing). MELBOURNE 1956: Romano Sgheiz (Rowing), Ivo Stefanoni (Rowing), Ercole Baldini, Franco Gandini and Valentino Gasparella (Cycling), Giancarlo Bergamini (Fencing). ROME 1960: Franco Testa, Marino Vigna, Sergio Bianchetto, Giuseppe Beghetto, Antonio Bailetti, Livio Trapè, Sante Gaiardoni (Cycling), Amedeo Ambron, Giuseppe D’Altrui, Salvatore Gionta, Giancarlo Guerrini, Luigi Mannelli, Rosario Parmegiani, Eraldo Pizzo, Brunello Spinelli (Water Polo), Giovanni Benvenuti, Francesco Musso, Francesco De Piccoli (Boxing). TOKYO 1964: Abdon Pamich (Athletics), Angelo Damiano, Mario Zanin (Cycling), Franco Menichelli (Gymnastics), Cosimo Pinto (Boxing), Mauro Checcoli, Alessandro Argenton, Giuseppe Ravano, Paolo Angioni (Equestrian Sports), Ennio Mattarelli (Skeet Shooting). GRENOBLE 1968: Erika Lechner (Luge), Luciano De Paolis, Mario Armano, Roberto Zandonella Necca (Bobsleigh), Francesco Nones (Cross-Country Skiing). MEXICO 1968: Bruno Cipolla, Primo Baran (Rowing), Pierfranco Vianelli (Cycling), Klaus Dibiasi (Diving). SAPPORO 1972: Walter Plaikner, Paul Hildgartner (Luge). MUNICH 1972: Michele Maffei, Cesare Salvadori, Rolando Rigoli, Antonella Ragno (Fencing). MOSCOW 1980: Sara Simeoni, Maurizio Damilano (Athletics), Ezio Gamba (Judo), Patrizio Oliva (Boxing), Federico Roman (Equestrian Sports), Luciano Giovannetti (Sketeer Shooting). LOS ANGELES 1984: Alessandro Andrei, Gabriella Dorio, Alberto Cova (Athletics), Giuseppe Abbagnale, Carmine Abbagnale, Giuseppe Di Capua (Rowing), Claudio Vandelli, Marco Giovannetti (Cycling), Vincenzo Maenza (Wrestling), Daniele Masala, Pierpaolo Cristofori, Carlo Massullo (Modern Pentathlon), Maurizio Stecca (Boxing), Mauro Numa, Andrea Borella, Angelo Scuri, Andrea Cipressa, Stefano Cerioni, Giovanni Scalzo, Ferdinando Meglio (Fencing). SEOUL 1988: Gelindo Bordin (Athletics), Gianluca Farina, Piero Poli (Rowing). ALBERTVILLE 1992: Josef Polig (Alpine Skiing). BARCELONA 1992: Pierpaolo Ferrazzi (Canoeing), Gianni Averaimo, Alessandro Bovo, Marco D’Altrui, Mario Fiorillo, Ferdinando Gandolfi, Francesco Porzio, Giuseppe Porzio, Carlo Silipo (Water Polo), Dorina Vaccaroni, Margherita Zalaffi (Fencing). LILLEHAMMER 1994: Wilfried Huber (Luge)

PARALYMPICS

SEOUL 1988: Milena Balsano, Concetta Varano, Italo Sacchetto (Athletics), Laura Presutto, Luigi Zonghi (Fencing), Gabriele Celegato, Santo Mangano (Shooting). BARCELONA 1992: Carlo Durante (Athletics), Roberto Gallucci, Paolo Martini, Dario Merelli, Hubert Perfler (Goalball), Orazio Pizzorni (Archery), Rossana Giarrizzo (Fencing).

SPORTS COMPANIES

Varese Gymnastics and Fencing Society, Mincio Rowing Club, Stamura ASD Physical Education Society, Bari Section of the Italian Naval League, Legnanese Sports Union, Pro Recco Waterpolo 1913. Honor also awarded to the NAS, the Anti-Adulteration Units of the Carabinieri.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD CHAMPIONS AWARD

Alice Sorato (Gold Medal in Artistic Gymnastics) and Andrea Ministro (Gold Medal in Equestrian Sports) – Los Angeles 2015

PERSONALITY’

Gianni Letta, Giorgio Armani, Massimo Moratti

GOLD STAR FOR TECHNICAL MERIT

Diego Mosna (Trentino Volley)

PALM D’OR FOR SPORTING MERIT

Ezio Triccoli (Fencing) – In memoriam – Giuseppe La Mura (Rowing)

CONI TROPHY 2015

Piemonte

Source: Fise.it