Italvolley, it starts from the Arena in Verona

Italvolley, off to the European Championships

Everything is ready for the start of the Women’s European Championship. At 8 p.m. (live TV on Rai 3 and Sky Sport Summer) Italy will take the field in the spectacular Arena in Verona to face Romania in the opening match of the 2023 edition of the continental competition. The Azzurri on Monday morning worked at the PalaAGSM in Verona while in the evening they tested the field set up at the Arena for a small appetizer of the scenario that promises to be magical with about 8000 tickets already sold for the awaited European debut.

In the afternoon, on the other hand, the press conference presenting the event was held at the Sala degli Arazzi of the Verona City Hall in the presence of the first citizen of Verona, Damiano Tommasi, the president of the CEV, Aleksandar Boricic, the president of Fipav, Giuseppe Manfredi, the president of Fipav Verona, Stefano Bianchini, and the CTs and captains of Italy and Romania. At the end of the press conference, women’s national team captain Myriam Sylla gave Verona Mayor Damiano Tommasi a ball autographed by the Italian women’s team and CT Davide Mazzanti.

“Seventeen years ago I began my professional career right here in Verona but never would I have imagined to start a European Championship in the Arena,” recalled the Azzurro selector. “Sport is a vehicle of many messages and this national team contains and conveys many of them. I believe that tomorrow the Arena will be an important sounding board of many values and an unprecedented sporting spectacle. Years ago I had the pleasure of spectating several shows in this historic venue and now I am looking forward to being able to take the field in a similar setting.”

He was echoed by captain Miriam Sylla: “As an athlete perhaps I never thought about those behind the scenes who work night and day to enable me to take the court in an optimal way but this time I realized what it means to organize such an event. That is why on behalf of all my teammates I want to say thank you for how lucky we are. Besides wearing the blue jersey we will be able to play in the Arena with our fans supporting us. I have attended concerts at the Arena but never imagined that I would be able to play there. It will be a great thrill and that’s why I can’t wait to take the field.”