An evening full of values and emotions, illuminated by faces who came from every corner of Italy to celebrate “Peter the Great”. The first edition of the Sports Literary Award, dedicated to the memory and legacy of Pietro Menneaunited hearts and stories thanks to the Fioravante Polito Foundation capable of paying homage in a never formal way not only to the legendary athlete but to the man who inspired generations to overcome their limits, running with their hearts towards infinity.
The event is officially recognized by Manuela Olivieriwife of Pietro Mennea, sprinter, Olympic champion of the 200 meters at the 1980 Moscow Games and two-time European champion. Many people were present at the “Andrea Fortunato” Football Museum and Library in Villa Matarazzo a Santa Maria di Castellabate. To moderate Gabriele Fernicolamarketing and communications manager of “Vito Di Canto Ets” Foundation which publishes the newspaper “la Città”, capable of celebrating sporting culture and the ethical values that it inspires in the wake of the “Pietro Mennea” Literary Prize established by the Fioravante Polito Foundation, of which Davide Polito is president, to pay homage to those who, through their works, they have been able to transform sport into poetry and a source of inspiration.
Among the guests of honor Carolina ForestiParalympic athlete, whose courage and dedication embody the purest essence of the sporting spirit.
These award winners and categories.
- Category A (Published Novels and Published Biographies): First Place Carlotta Gilli, Mauro Giorgini – Una luce nell’acqua; Second place Manuela Benelli – Out of the body; Third Place Mauro Grimaldi – How beautiful you are Rome.
- Special Jury Prize Go: Bruno Conti, Giammarco Menga – Child’s Play;
- Special Award from the President of the Foundation: Francesco Pietrella – Gli Inzaghi. Brothers in football; Michele Rizzitelli – A Guinness couple. Our thousand marathons;
- Artistic Director’s Special Award: Gianluigi D’Ambrosio – Defending against giants;
- Category C (Edited Essays and Published Manuals): First Place Mattia Rizzo, Stefano Zerbato – Football and principles; Second Place Nicolò Ragalmuto – Marginal gains for the winning athlete.
- Special Prize from the Evaluating Jury: Rodolfo Lisi – The tennis player’s pulse;
- Special Award from the President of the Foundation: Pasquale Mallozzi – What we talk about when we talk about sport;
- Special Award from the Artistic Director: Maurizio Targa – Your Father;
- Category D (Stories Section for Adults): First Place
- Sergio Mari – Certain silences should remain silent forever; Second Place Massimiliano De Luca – When you learned about life by playing; Third Place Massimiliano Bruno – Matthias Sindelar, story of love and challenge.
- Courage and Solidarity Special Award: Cinzia Bevilacqua – Nobody stops pink.
- Special Brotherhood and Generosity Award: Armando Napoletano – Sorry, Paolino Ponzo scored.
- Special Resilience and Redemption Award: Daniele Bartocci – Julio Velasco, King Midas.
- Category B (Unpublished Novels and Unpublished Biographies): First Place Nicola Lupi – Gerry Pine: the voice of victory;
- Second Place Stefano Nadalini – Successful defeats.
- Category E (School Section Stories): First Place
- Andrea Albanese – United we win;
- Mennea Award for Determination and Rebirth: Carolina Foresti.
- Mennea Lifetime Achievement Award: Lucio Schiuma (Multi-award-winning literary author).
- Mennea Memory Award: Francesco Pontone.
- Mennea Award for Family Value: Flora Di Giaimo, widow Amodio.
The portraits that celebrate Pietro Mennea are works born from the artist’s inspiration Fernando Mangone and the ceramic plates delivered were made by the Solimene company Vietri sul Mare.
#Mennea #Award #sport #culture #wins
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What are the key themes recognized in the Mennea Award’s various categories?
Zara: Tell us about the Mennea Award, its significance and the categories it recognizes.
Alfredo: The Mennea Award is a prestigious annual award that recognizes excellence in the field of sport and culture. It was established in honor of the late Pietro Mennea, a legendary Italian sprinter who won multiple Olympic gold medals. The award is organized by the Mennea Foundation and is presented in several categories, including published novels, biographies, essays, manuals, stories for adults, school stories, and artistic works. The award aims to promote the values of sport, such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, and to highlight the cultural aspects of sports and their impact on society.
Zara: Can you give us an overview of the winners in this year’s Mennea Award and the themes that stood out in their works?
Alfredo: The theme of resilience and redemption was prominent in this year’s winning works. Two special awards were given for this category, one to Daniele Bartocci for his book “Julio Velasco, King Midas” and the other to Sergio Mari for “Certain Silences Should Remain Silent Forever.” These books highlight the personal struggles and triumphs of athletes overcoming adversity. In addition, the topic of sports history and its impact on society was also present, particularly in the works of Francesco Pietrella and Maurizio Targa.
Zara: What role does the Mennea Foundation play in promoting sport and culture in Italy?
Alfredo: The Mennea Foundation seeks to promote sport and culture by organizing events, activities, and initiatives that bring people together. They collaborate with schools, universities, and sports clubs to support young talents and encourage the development of sports-related projects. The foundation also invests in research and studies to analyze the relationship between sport and society, with the ultimate goal of using sports to build a better and more inclusive society.
Zara: How does the Mennea Award contribute to this mission?
Alfredo: The Mennea Award plays a significant role in promoting the values of sport and culture by recognizing and rewarding excellence in related fields. By celebrating the works of writers, artists, and athletes,
