The 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award continues its journey with an exciting new chapter this Saturday, 30th November. The event will culminate with the winter edition of The Champions Tell Their Stories, a talk show that brings together sports icons to share their journeys of triumph, resilience, and the values of fair play. The show will be held at 5:00 pm in the historic Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
Letizia Perini, Sports Councillor for Florence, highlighted the significance of the event, noting that the athletes present serve as ambassadors for the values of loyalty, courage, and determination both in sport and in life. “The stories of their lives, successes, sacrifices, and the strength to overcome setbacks resonate with us all,” she said, thanking the Fair Play Menarini Foundation for its dedication to these ideals.
The line-up for this year’s talk show features a star-studded roster of athletes who have exemplified the highest values in sport. Among them are football legends such as Javier Zanetti, the former Inter Milan captain and current Fair Play Menarini Ambassador, and Borja Valero, a beloved figure in Fiorentina’s football history.
Volleyball will be represented by Andrea Zorzi, a two-time world champion with the Italian national team and a previous winner of the Fair Play Menarini Award, alongside rising star Ekaterina Antropova, who claimed a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Athletics will see the participation of Andy Diaz, who won his first Olympic medal for Italy in the triple jump at Paris 2024, and his coach, Fabrizio Donato, a bronze medallist from London 2012. Their inspiring story of solidarity and friendship will be a highlight of the evening.
Other athletes include Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy, who set a world record in the discus throw at the Paris Paralympic Games, and Giuliano Razzoli, the Olympic slalom champion from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Federico Buffa, the journalist and winner of the 28th Fair Play Menarini Award in the “Narrating Emotions” category, will also share his perspective on the power of storytelling in sports.
Ivan Zazzaroni, a Fair Play Menarini Ambassador and Chief Editor of Corriere dello Sport, expressed his enthusiasm for the diverse perspectives that will be shared. “This year’s Champions Tell Their Stories will offer a unique range of viewpoints, with an insightful exchange of experiences between the new champions and established icons,” Zazzaroni commented.
The event, which will be broadcast live on Sky TG24 from 5:00 pm onwards, will be presented by former volleyball champion Rachele Sangiuliano, alongside Sky Sport hosts Omar Schillaci and Michele Cagiano. The programme is produced in collaboration with Sky TG24, bringing a global audience closer to the athletes’ compelling stories.
Valeria Speroni Cardi and Filippo Paganelli, Board Members of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation, expressed their gratitude to the Municipality of Florence for their continued support. “We hope that this new edition of The Champions Tell Their Stories will inspire younger generations with powerful examples of life and sport,” they said.
This exceptional gathering promises to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating not only athletic achievements but also the core values that play sports a universal language of hope, resilience, and unity.