The number one in Italian sport supported Conegliano at the Super Final of the Champions League: “My family comes from Bibano, good Garbellotto and Santarelli”
CONEGLIANO. The outgoing president of Coni Giovanni Malagò was one of the main supporters of the organization of the Champions League Superfinals in Verona and does not hide the satisfaction for the victory of the panthers.
President, what do you think of Imoco Conegliano’s victory in the Champions League, the city of origin of a part of his family. Have you seen the game?
“Yes, I saw it, I enjoyed it. It was a crazy final, an incredible match that delivers Imoco Volley to history. As on the occasion of the championship victory, I congratulated both the president Garbellotto and the coach Santarelli for having given yet another success to the Italian volleyball movement. Yes, my family, on my mother’s side, is originally from Bibano, so the bond with the panthers is special: let’s say I’m a bit of a Conegliano fan. But having said that, it is the victory of an Italian team and it makes everyone happy, regardless of parochialism or cheering. It is a pity not to have scored an encore for men with Trentino Volley ».
The audience figures (about one million viewers in the tiebreak) were very satisfying. In your opinion, what are the factors that have favored this boom?
«I believe that various factors have contributed: the volleyball movement is rooted in the territory, volleyball is part of the sporting tradition of our country; to this we add the “hunger” for sport caused by this pandemic that has deprived us for a long time, among other things, of the possibility of attending matches like these … Verona has staged volleyball, a unique show and a passionate public and competent did not expect this show ».
Can the Superfinals in Verona be the driving force behind post-Covid, despite the absence of an audience?
«The Superfinals will certainly be the driving force behind post-Covid. Remaining in the field of volleyball, they certainly launch the sprint to the Olympics where Italy will be represented by many of the protagonists and protagonists seen on the pitch in Verona. Furthermore, they confirm the multidisciplinary sporting vocation of your Region which this year hosted the Alpine Ski World Championships and which will return to the protagonist with the Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina 2026. To this vocation is added the great attention of local institutions towards of sport. Veneto is a flywheel, a hotbed of blue athletes and teams like Imoco contribute to the growth of the Italian volleyball movement and, perhaps, to ignite the passion in many young people and many young people. The pandemic has caused many “victims” and serious injuries in our sports fabric, in terms of membership and the disappearance of associations and sports clubs. I am sure that the fantastic season that Conegliano gave us will feed many young people in the area and not that flame that the coronavirus has tried to stifle. Today spectators and spectators, tomorrow protagonists and protagonists on the pitch: whether it’s a youth tournament, a national championship or, perhaps, a Champions League final ».
On the net – and not only – Paola Egonu’s idea for the role of standard-bearer in Tokyo is growing. Would you be in favor?
«Paola is the symbol of our volleyball and, right now, in my view, she is the strongest player in the world. She is “devastating” on the pitch and a leader in and out of the locker room. To the displeasure of her opponents and our pleasure in Tokyo she will take the field with the Italy shirt. Out of institutional respect, however, I cannot go beyond these personal opinions of mine. On May 13, in fact, the Coni elections will be held in Milan and I believe that it is up to the president who will be elected and the new council to decide who will wave the Tricolor received by President Mattarella. Furthermore, the qualifications for Tokyo 2020 are not over and we do not yet know the full squad of the Italia Team. That said: Paola has every right to dream of filling this role. She is a leader, as well as being an exceptional athlete ».
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