FLORENCE (ITALPRESS) – The journey of the 28th Menarini International Fair Play Award does not stop. After the award ceremony last July 4, the event dedicated to the highest values of fair and correct sports competition closes the year with the talk show “Champions tell their stories,” which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. in the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. “The champions, who in various capacities represent the world of sports, are called upon as the bearers of values that are as valid on the playing fields as in life,” stressed Councillor for Sport Letizia Perini. “Their life stories, their successes in their respective disciplines and the sacrifices to achieve them, their courage, strength and determination to get back up after every fall, sporting or otherwise, represent a point of reference for everyone. I thank the Fair Play Menarini Foundation that with perseverance and passion carries out this important mission.” The names of the participants and the details of this unprecedented winter version of ‘Champions tell their stories’ were unveiled today at a press conference. Once again, high-profile athletes who have demonstrated throughout their careers that they embody the great values of sports have been involved. Prominent among the soccer legends is Argentine defender Javier Zanetti, historic Inter Milan captain and Menarini Fair Play Ambassador since 2023. An idol of the purple people such as Borja Valero, Spanish midfielder who has become a flag for Fiorentina, will also be present at the talk. Representing volleyball will be the “maestro” Andrea Zorzi, two-time world champion with Italvolley and winner of the Menarini Fair Play Award in 2010, along with an up-and-coming star like Ekaterina Antropova, Olympic gold medalist at the last Paris Games. From the world of athletics, and triple jump in particular, comes a touching story of solidarity and friendship: the protagonists are Andy Diaz, who won his first Olympic medal in Paris 2024 with the Italian colors after leaving Cuba, and his coach Fabrizio Donato, bronze medalist in the triple jump at the 2012 London Games, who welcomed him into his home and helped him settle in Italy. The roundup of stars continues with Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy, revelation of Paralympic athletics, who a few months ago in Paris won gold in the discus throw, improving the world record three times in a row. Projecting to skiing is special slalom specialist Giuliano Razzoli, Olympic champion at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and Menarini Fair Play Ambassador since the following year. Finally, enchanting the audience will be the exciting tales of journalist Federico Buffa, winner in July of the 28th Menarini International Fair Play Award in the “Narrating Emotions” category. Commenting on the names of the talk show participants will be a great sports expert Ivan Zazzaroni, Menarini Fair Play Ambassador since 2019 and director of Corriere dello Sport. Produced in partnership with Sky TG24, ‘I campioni si raccontanò will be broadcast live on Sky channel 501 starting at 5 p.m. “We look forward to this extraordinary moment of sharing, moreover in the setting of such a fantastic space as the Salone dei Cinquecento,” say Valeria Speroni Cardi and Filippo Paganelli, members of the Board of the Fondazione Fair Play Menarini. “We sincerely thank the City of Florence, which has shared the values of the Prize for years, and we hope that this new edition of ‘I campioni si raccontanò’ can provide the youngest with food for thought and examples of life.
– Photo Menarini Fair Play Foundation –
(ITALPRESS).
Zanetti, Zorzi and Diaz at “Champions Tell Their Stories”
