Italvolley, world celebration with President Sergio Mattarella
The Italian national volleyball teams, women’s and men’s, returning from their double triumph at the 2025 World Championships, were received today at the Quirinale by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
A meeting of strong significance, which once again confirms the closeness and appreciation of the Head of State towards volleyball and more generally towards Italian sport.
With this day, therefore, closes the journey of two teams that have been able to excite millions of fans with their sporting feats, entering by right in the history of Italian and world sport.
The blue and blue teams, accompanied by their respective staffs, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, Secretary General Carlo Mornati and Federal President Giuseppe Manfredi, were welcomed inside the Salone delle Feste of the Quirinale Palace by the Head of State. Also present in the audience was Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi.
The first to take the floor was CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio, who said, “Mr. President, it is always a pleasure to be here because of the welcome you always show to the world of sports. This is the third time I have been here in 100 days, but the excitement is always the same.
Volleyball, FIPAV, has accomplished an extraordinary thing. We are here because it is the Italian sport that deserves and is doing well in the world. The images we have just seen tell of all the emotions that the girls and boys have conveyed to us in their journeys.
The images we have just seen tell of all the emotions that the girls and boys have conveyed to us in their journeys.
What the women’s and men’s national teams have done is extraordinary; for the first time, two national teams have won the World Cup in the same year.
The president Giuseppe Manfredi, technical commissioners Julio Velasco and Ferdinando De Giorgi, captain Anna Danesi and vice-captain Simone Anzani then spoke on behalf of the national blue teams.
Giuseppe Manfredi: “Dear President, thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming us once again to this place that is a symbol of our country’s unity, history and identity. To be received at the Quirinale is an immense honor; when this happens it means that something relevant has been done for Italy and for Italians, and it is even more so when two National Teams that have written an indelible page in the history of Italian sports are invited. In this year 2025, Italy has accomplished an’extraordinary feat: winning the world title with both the men’s and women’s national teams.”
Julio Velasco: “Dear President, for us it is a huge pride to be here. When the President of the Republic receives us it means that all of Italy receives us. For us this is an important day, especially in a historical moment where divisions, unfortunately, dominate. However, I believe that sports can defend a democratic culture and coexist with diversity. The women’s team I believe is a model to be followed and admired.”
Ferdinando De Giorgi: “Good morning to you President and thank you all for this special invitation. I am happy to be in your presence here again along with the team, staff and executives after a short post-Olympics pause for reflection. I must tell you in all sincerity that you, dear President have become our motivator. Before we left for the Philippines-as part of our team training – we watched the video with the speech made by our captain Giannelli on the occasion of the world championship won in 2022 that ended with the wish to see you again as soon as possible. That was our first motivational boost.”
Anna Danesi: “Mr. President on behalf of all my teammates I would like to sincerely thank you for this invitation and for the welcome you gave us today in an extraordinary setting. This is not a first time for us, but the emotions that come from meeting you today are new and genuine, perhaps dictated by the constant attention with which you look at the world of sports, and because of the genuine passion you have always shown towards volleyball. She knows it, follows it and loves it: for us, this means a great deal.”
Simone Anzani: “Dear President Mattarella, I thank you for having, as on other occasions, wanted to celebrate and welcome our victories in this hall, exalting our sport and our movement.
Today I have the honor of being here before you to speak also on behalf of Captain Simone Gianelli who due to commitments with his own club could not be present, and also bring greetings from Roberto Russo and Yuri Romanò who for the same reason are not here with us today.
After Simone Anzani’s speech, there was a time for the presentation of gifts to the Head of State. Anna Danesi and Simone Anzani gave President Mattarella, among other things, the medals they won at the World Championships.
Following this was President Sergio Mattarella’s speech, “Welcome back. I thank you for the gifts that I will keep with great care. The medals are yours, you wear them with pride, and it must be an extraordinarily engaging feeling. You were terrific, congratulations and thank you again for the emotions you conveyed. You were followed passionately by all Italians, by the whole country. I would like to extend greetings to those who could not be present here with us today, to captain Simone Giannelli, whom I thank for the letter sent to me, to Myriam Sylla, to Alessia Orro, to Roberto Russo and to Yuri Romanò. I am very happy for the presence of Daniele Lavia, who also participated in the World Cup with heart and mind. The path of these two teams was extraordinary and full of charm. I thank all the staff for the great accompanying work, as well as I thank the two technical commissioners Julio Velasco and Ferdinando De Giorgi, for their commitment and what they put on the court, off the court to be able to get the athletes in the best possible way, and also especially for the extreme lucidity they had during the various time outs.”
