Italy and Olympism “I wanted Rome because there alone, back from its tour of utilitarian America, Olympism would don the splendid robe, woven with art and thought, with which I had wanted to adorn it from the outset.” Pierre de Coubertin, Mémoires Olympiques “May the Olympic Games—this is my most sincere wish—strengthen hope and faith in a higher destiny of man. May the young athletes, returning to their homes, beyond the Alps and seas, remember their Roman visit when they felt united over and above all personal ambition, all difference of language, race and opinion; and may these young people declare that peaceful co-existence is possible and necessary between nations, in the name of humanity, freedom and civilisation.” Giovanni Gronchi, President of the Italian Republic, 1960 ITALY COMITATO OLIMPICO NAZIONALE ITALIANO (CONI) 301,200 square kilometres. Founded in 1896, permanent since 1908. 54,350,000 inhabitants. President in office: Giulio Onesti*. Secretary General in office: Mario Pescante*. Address: Foro Italico, Roma. Telephone: 3150. Telex: CONI Roma 81299. Cable: Coni Roma. Role of the CONI Federation of the Italian sports feder- tions, the CONI governs, administers and controls all national sports activi- ties. According to the IOC’s Rules and Regu- lations, which it tries to apply throu- ghout the country, the CONI assumes all national Olympic responsibilities. But, entrusted with the preparation of Italian delegations to the Olympic Games, the CONI also seeks to advocate “sport for all”. * See biographical notes. 185 Creation In response to Baron Pierre de Couber- First Italian Olympic Committee tin’s invitation, Count Lucchesi Palli* “The Italian Olympic Committee, set up by Count Eugene Brunetta d’Usseaux* met under and the Duke d’Andria Carafa* repre- his chairmanship at the Italian Touring Club’s sented Italy at the Paris Congress headquarters in Milan, with the following personalities present: Cdr. Johnson, Director which approved the foundation of the General of the Touring Club; Marquess Com- International Olympic Committee in pans de Brichanteau, Member of Parliament; Mr. Cantu, President of the Swimming Socie- 1894, and both became founder mem- ties; Mr. Tomaso Rolando, Secretary General bers. Among the honorary members at of the Royal Rowing Club; Sir Coltelletti, Vice-President of the Royal Yacht Club; this Congress were two members of the General Sismondi, President of target-shoot- Italian Parliament, Count Frisoni and R. ing; Mr. Sanarelli, Under-Secretary of State; State Councillor Brunialti*, Vice-President of Bonghi, the Italian Rowing Club Secre- the Physical Education Committee; Mr. Bo- tary Mr. Capuccio, and the Italian selli, former Minister for Public Education; Mr. Battaglieri, Member of Parliament; Pro- Gymnastics Federation which attached fessor Cridaro, of the University of Rome; itself to the project in writing. Cdr. Guido Croa, Vice-President of the Alpine Club; Messrs. Guerra, Ballerini, Leonino and Some weeks later after a trip to Greece, Cdr. Pardo. Two standing sub-committees were created, one based in Milan and the Coubertin visited the Duke d’Andria other in Rome.” Carafa* in Naples. “There he got a Olympic Review, May 1907, page 288. clear idea of the sympathy with which the task of re-establishing the Olympic Games was considered in Italian circles,” we note from the bulletin of Today, the CONI has already initiated the International Committee for the and realised many projects, including Olympic Games (No.3, January 1895). the staging of the VIIth Winter Games at Italy had to wait until 1907 and the Cortina d’Ampezzo (1956) and the advent of the Olympic Games in Lon- Games celebrating the XVIIth Olympiad don before the birth of an organised in Rome (1960). national Olympic movement, due to the efforts of Count Brunetta d’Usseaux*, an IOC member from 1897. Until 1920, From Olympia to Rome Marquess Carlo Compans de Brichan- The Italian sensibility lends itself to receiv- teau was President of this Committee ing the Olympic message and to recognising, which became permanent in 1908. as in ancient times, the values of sports effort linked to culture. Following the last World War, national The Greek Empire, which included southern sports organisation was rearranged Italy, had given legendary figures to the more in line with modern sports requi- Hellenic Games. The runner Glaukos and the unrivalled wrestler Milo, who won six rements within the framework of the Olympic titles, originated from the town of Olympic movement: it has become a Kroton. vast structure, at the top and bottom of Rome did not revive the Greek Games: the which can be found respectively the Ita- spectacle of the Roman circus, that Martial hit with his fierce satire, became increas- lian National Olympic Committee and ingly bloodthirsty until its degeneracy. Even the sports societies. the Emperors went down into the arena to fight with the gladiators. The Olympiads It was due to the new leaders of the remained a purely Hellenic event. Rome missed the opportunity of transforming them Italian National Olympic Committee, into a great world-wide festival. Later on, the under the leadership of Mr. Giulio Roman universality—so inspired in other fields—asserted itself in the sphere of the Onesti*, helped by his IOC colleagues, spirit and equality of man through the word Count Paolo Thaon di Revel* and Dr. of Christ. Giorgio de Stefani*, and benefitting The ruins of the large arenas remain. In from the experience of Alberto Bona- 1960, as if by magic, they rediscovered the ancient Games, due to the intuition of a man cossa*, that sport was resurrected from of our times, Pierre de Coubertin. the ruins of the war. 186 Successive Presidents of the CONI 1907-1920: Carlo Compans de Brichan- teau. 1920-1921: Carlo Montu*. 1921-1923: Francesco Mauro. 1923-1925: Aldo Finzi. 1925-1928: Lando Ferretti. 1928-1930: Augusto Turati*¹. Two IOC members for Italy with their col- 1930-1931: Iti Bacci¹. leagues in Budapest (1911): (top row) J. S. Edström (Sweden), Director of the 1912 Organising Committee and future Presi- dent of the IOC, Selim Sirri Bey (Turkey); (in the centre) Rev. R. S. de Courcy Laffan (Great Britain), Angelo C. Bolonaki (Egypt), Attilio Brunialti (Italy); (below) Count Geza Andrassy (Hungary), Count Eugene Brunetta d’Usseaux (Italy), V. G. Balck (Sweden), Baron Pierre de Coubertin (President of the IOC), and Mrs. Maurice Pescatore (from Alberto Bonacossa Carlo Montù left to right). IOC members for Italy 1. Count Lucchesi Palli*, founder member of the Committee from 1894 to 1895. 2. Duke d’Andria Carafa*, from 1894 Giulio Onesti to 1898. 3. Count Eugene Brunetta d’Us- seaux*, from 1897 to 1918. 4. Prince Scipion Borghese*, from 1908 to 1909. 5. Councillor Attilio Brunialti*, from 1909 to 1913. 6. General Carlo Montu*, from 1913 to 1939. 7. Marquess Guglielmi*, from 1920 to Giorgio de Stefani Paolo Thaon di Revel 1930. 8. Count Alberto Bonacossa*, from 1931-1933: Leandro Arpinati. 1925 to 1953, Executive Board 1933-1939: Achille Starace. member from 1935 to 1952. 1939-1940: Rino Parenti. 9. Augusto Turati*, from 1930 to 1940-1943: Raffaele Manganiello. 1931. 1943 (from 25.7 to 28.9): Alberto Bona- 10. Count Paolo Thaon di Revel*, from cossa*¹. 1932 to 1964, Executive Board 1943-1944: Ettore Rossi¹. member from 1954 to 1960, honora- 1944 (from 14.3 to 28.6): Puccio ry member until his death in 1973. Pucci¹. 11. General Giorgio Vaccaro*, from 1944-1946: Giulio Onesti*¹. 1939 to 1949. Since 27.7.1946: Giulio Onesti*. 12. Dr. Giorgio de Stefani*, since 1951, Executive Board member from * See biographical notes. 1964 to 1968. ¹ Commissioner. 13. Giulio Onesti*, since 1964. 187 ITALY AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES Milan, candidate city to stage the 1908 Olympic Games. • Date of first participation: 1900. Rome, candidate city to stage the 1924, 1936 and 1940 Olympic Games. Although the sports movement develo- ped slightly late on the peninsula, Ita- Cortina d’Ampezzo, elected city to lian sportsmen did however take part in stage the Vth Winter Games in 1944; the 1900 Games. these Games could not be held. From 1908, an Italian delegation attend- Cortina d’Ampezzo, candidate city to ed all the Olympiad, and Winter Games, stage the 1952 Olympic Games. celebrations. Cortina d’Ampezzo, organising city for Since, Italy has shown itself to be one the VIIth Winter Games in 1956. of the leading Olympic nations. Rome, organising city for the Olympic Games celebrating the XVIIth Olympiad in 1960. Italian cities which have applied to •stage the Olympic Games Rome, elected city to stage the Olympic Italian cities which have applied to stage Games celebrating the IVth Olympiad in •Regional Games: Naples, organising city for 1908, but replaced by London. the 1963 Mediterranean Games. Munich 1972 - The ltalian delegation. 188 Representation of Italy at the Winter Games from 1924 to 1972¹ 1924 • 10 • 13 23 1928 • 5 • 10 15² 1932 • 4 • 8 12 1936 • 10 10 • 2(1) 22(4) 44(5) 1948 • 10 17 • 4 2(1) 24(2) 57(3) 1952 • 8 • 3 1 21(5) 33(5) 1956 • 10 16 • 5 2(2) 32(10) 65(12) 1960 • • 3 2(2) 23(5) 28(7) 1964 8 17 7(2) 2 2(1) 25(5) 61(8) 1968 10 9(3) 4 2(1) 22(4) 47(8) 1972 6 14 10(2) 3 1(1) 31 65(3) ¹ The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure. • Not included on the programme. 189 Representation of Italy at the Olympic Games from 1896 to 1972¹ 1896 x • • • x • 1900 2 • • • 2 3 2 0² 1 • 1904 0² • • • 1908 13 1 • • 4 • 12 32 • 1912 12 • • • 11 14 16 • 1920 33 6 • 6 • 12 10 18 21 27 5 1924 38 17 • 16 • 10 5 19 13 8 15 1928 25(6) 26 • 7 • 12 5 18 17 20(12) 6 1932 21 20 • 8 • 10 14 7 4 1936 32(5) 22 13 8 1 11 6 16 14 16(8) 4 1948 25(8) 26 14 8 12 5 19(3) 12 16(8) 1 1952 33(8) 26 13 10 6 11 4 18(3) 12 16(8) 6 1956 21(6) 21 8 12 6 19(2) 6(6) 4 1960 47(8) 26 12 10 12(3) 14 7 20(5) 16 12(6) 7 1964 22(1) 18 12 10 4 14 7 20(5) 6 2 1968 30(4) 14 12 11 2 18 8 24(5) 10(3) 3 1972 43(8) 21 12 9 10 18 11(1) 19(5) 14(7) 6 ¹ The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure.