Carlo Calcagni Takes Center Stage at Wellkend: Honored for His Courage and Athletic Achievements

WELLKEND 2026 was a huge success in Lecce. The event, dedicated to sports, wellness, and community involvement, drew numerous athletes, sports enthusiasts, young people, and families, reaffirming the value of sports as an extraordinary tool for bringing people together, fostering inclusion, and promoting shared experiences.

Among the evening’s most significant moments was the award presented by UNUCI —the National Union of Retired Officers of Italy—to Colonel (Honorary Rank) Carlo Calcagni of the Italian Army, in recognition of his athletic achievements and the extraordinary example of courage, determination, and resilience he has demonstrated throughout his personal, military, and athletic career.

The event was attended by civil and military authorities, along with representatives from UNUCI, the sports world, and civil society. Also present were the Mayor of Lecce, Adriana Poli Bortone, and the Councilor for Sports, Giancarlo Capoccia.

The award was presented by Captain (ret.) Cav. Dr. Gianni Passafiume, UNUCI Regional Delegate for Puglia-Basilicata and President of the UNUCI Taranto Chapter, who conveyed greetings from UNUCI National President Gen. (ret.) Federico Sepe to the city of Lecce and those in attendance, also noting that UNUCI is celebrating the centennial of its founding this year.

Particularly moving was the moment dedicated to the reading of a letter addressed to Colonel Calcagni by Captain Marcello Boschi, UNUCI National Director of Sports and Values and President of the UNUCI Anzio-Nettuno Chapter.

The letter focused not only on the athlete and the soldier, but above all on the man himself—his ability to face difficulties and transform suffering into a testament to strength, dignity, and hope: “Your greatest victory, Carlo, is not coming in first. It’s to keep starting,” the letter read, among other things.