The Interamnia World Cup run by a Handball organisation in Italy. It is one of the largest international handball competitions established and it is contested by men's and women's club teams from all over the world. It takes place every year during the first week of July in Teramo in Italy. In this year (2023) it has reached the 50th edition.
146-618: 42°39′32″N 13°42′10″E / 42.65889°N 13.70278°E / 42.65889; 13.70278 This handball competition article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to sports in Italy is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sports in Italy Sport in Italy has a long tradition. In several sports, both individual and team, Italy has good representation and many successes. The most popular sport in Italy
292-457: A spa town due to the visits by Empress Elisabeth of Austria and the aristocracy , the need to have organised horse races grew. In 1896, the first horse race took place and in 1900 a permanent racecourse established, which featured flat, steeplechase , and trotting races. Baseball is a growing, minor sport in Italy. Introduced to Italy by American servicemen during World War II, professional baseball leagues were not established until after
438-473: A unit of distance . The most widely accepted inception date for the Ancient Olympics is 776 BC; this is based on inscriptions, found at Olympia , listing the winners of a footrace held every four years starting in 776 BC. For the first thirteen Olympics, the stadion footrace was the only event contested, and victory in that sprint was so valued that the next Olympiad was named after
584-644: A 13 in Italian ) was established prior to the 1950s, and the Italy national rugby league team plays in various international competitions. The Italy national team were victorious in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying tournament. They will therefore contest their first Rugby League World Cup in 2013 . Italy has also participated in the 2009 European Cup and the 2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament . Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games ( Olympics ; French : Jeux olympiques, ) are
730-471: A cost overrun of 76%, Sochi 2014 of 289%. It has been documented that cost and cost overrun for the Games follow a power-law distribution , which means that, first, the Games are prone to large cost overruns and, second, it is only a matter of time until an overrun occurs that is larger than the largest to date. In short, hosting the Games is economically and financially extremely risky. The final cost for
876-498: A distance of 298 km (~185.2 miles) it is the longest professional one-day race in modern cycling. It is the first major classic race of the season. The first edition was held in 1907 . The Giro di Lombardia, officially Il Lombardia , is a cycling race in Lombardy , Italy . It is traditionally the last of the five ' Monuments ' of the season, considered to be one of the most prestigious one-day events in cycling, and one of
1022-561: A growing quality in the discipline, with Susanna Marchesi finishing 9th at the Individual All Around competition, as well as the team winning 6th place in the 2000 Summer Olympics . Italy won the silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and came in at 4th place at the 2008 Summer Olympics . They also collected a string of medals throughout the 2005–2008 Olympic cycle. At the 2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Mie , Japan,
1168-458: A model for future Games. Budget overruns are common for the Games. Average overrun for Games since 1960 is 156% in real terms, which means that actual costs turned out to be on average 2.56 times the budget that was estimated at the time of winning the bid to host the Games. Montreal 1976 had the highest cost overrun for Summer Games, and for any Games, at 720%; Lake Placid 1980 had the highest cost overrun for Winter Games, at 324%. London 2012 had
1314-710: A national Olympic festival held annually from 1796 to 1798 in Revolutionary France also attempted to emulate the ancient Olympic Games. The competition included several disciplines from the ancient Greek Olympics. The 1796 Games also marked the introduction of the metric system into sport. In 1834 and 1836, the Olympic games were held in Ramlösa, Sweden , and in Stockholm , in 1843, organised by Gustaf Johan Schartau and others. At most 25,000 spectators saw
1460-524: A particular candidate city. After being narrowly defeated in their bid for the 2012 Games, Parisian mayor Bertrand Delanoë specifically accused the British prime minister Tony Blair and the London bid committee , headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe , of breaking the bid rules. He cited French president Jacques Chirac as a witness; Chirac gave guarded interviews concerning his involvement but
1606-544: A reduced number of disciplines and events. Over 14,000 athletes competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics combined, in 40 different sports and 448 events. The Summer Olympics have grown from 241 participants representing 14 nations in 1896, to more than 11,300 competitors representing 206 nations in 2020 . The scope and scale of the Winter Olympics is smaller; for example, Beijing hosted 2,971 athletes from 91 nations in 2022 . Most of
SECTION 10
#17327726556461752-512: A surplus in part by selling exclusive sponsorship rights to select companies. The IOC sought to gain control of these sponsorship rights. Samaranch helped to establish The Olympic Programme (TOP) in 1985, in order to create an Olympic brand. Membership in TOP was, and is, very exclusive and expensive. Fees cost US$ 50 million for a four-year membership. Members of TOP received exclusive global advertising rights for their product category, and use of
1898-674: A surplus of $ 40 million. This excess revenue was used to create the Utah Athletic Foundation (also known as the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation), which maintains and operates many of the surviving Olympic venues. It was reported in 1999 that the Nagano Olympic bid committee had spent approximately $ 14 million on entertaining the 62 IOC members and many of their associates. The precise figures are unknown since Nagano destroyed
2044-474: A survey made by National Institute of Statistics (Italy) in 2000. Football ( calcio in Italian ) is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italy national football team is considered to be one of the best national teams in the world. They have won the FIFA World Cup four times ( 1934 , 1938 , 1982 , 2006 ), trailing only Brazil (with 5), runners-up in two finals ( 1970 , 1994 ) and reaching
2190-564: A third place ( 1990 ) and a fourth place ( 1978 ). They have also won two European Championships ( 1968 and 2020 ), also appearing in two finals ( 2000 , 2012 ), finished third at the Confederations Cup ( 2013 ), won one Olympic football tournament ( 1936 ) and two Central European International Cups ( 1927–30 and 1933–35 ). Italy's top domestic league, the Serie A , is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in
2336-431: A trust to fund future Olympic Games. This trust was used to help finance the 1896 Games. George Averoff contributed generously for the refurbishment of the stadium in preparation for the Games. The Greek government also provided funding, which was expected to be recouped through the sale of tickets and from the sale of the first Olympic commemorative stamp set. Greek officials and the public were enthusiastic about
2482-521: A two-city race between Almaty , Kazakhstan and Beijing, China who hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics . The Guardian stated that the biggest threat to the future of the Olympics is few cities or countries want to host them. Bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics became a two-city race between Paris and Los Angeles, so the IOC took the unusual step of simultaneously awarding both the 2024 Games to Paris and
2628-566: A wealthy Greek-Romanian philanthropist, first wrote to King Otto of Greece , in 1856, offering to fund a permanent revival of the Olympic Games. Zappas sponsored the first Olympic Games in 1859, which was held in an Athens city square. Athletes participated from Greece and the Ottoman Empire. Zappas funded the restoration of the ancient Panathenaic Stadium so that it could host all future Olympic Games. The stadium hosted
2774-651: Is Italian Athletics Federation affiliated to European federation, the European Athletic Association (EAA), international federation, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), which in turn is a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Italy national athletics team represents Italy at the international athletics competitions such as Olympic Games or world athletics championships . Amongst
2920-460: Is football . Italy's national football team is one of the world's most successful teams with four FIFA World Cup victories ( 1934 , 1938 , 1982 and 2006 ) and two UEFA Euro victories ( 1968 and 2021 ). Italian clubs have won 48 major European trophies, making Italy the second most successful country in European football . Italy's top-flight club football league is named Serie A and
3066-585: Is a horse racing venue in the city of Milan , which takes its name from the neighborhood of the same name in which it is located. Designed in 1913 to replace the then-used Trotter in Via Padova, the Hippodrome of San Siro was inaugurated on 25 July 1920, with its construction work being slowed down due to the World War I . In 1999 a statue of Leonardo's horse was placed in the square in front of
SECTION 20
#17327726556463212-482: Is a familiar sport in the country along with fencing , shooting and boxing . Alpine skiing is also a widespread sport in Italy, and the country is a popular international skiing destination, known for its ski resorts. Italian skiers achieved good results in Winter Olympic Games , Alpine Ski World Cup , and tennis has a significant following in Italy, ranking as the fourth most practised sport in
3358-682: Is a popular sport in Italy. On 17 March 1844, the Royal Gymnastics Society of Turin , the oldest sports club in Italy, was established by the Swiss gymnast Rudolf Obermann, called to Italy by King Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia . On 15 March 1869, the Italian Gymnastics Federation was founded in Venice , the first sports federation in the history of Italy. At the turn of the millennium, Italy showed
3504-685: Is a well-represented sport in Italy. Bicycle racing is a familiar sport in the country. Italians have won the World Cycling Championship more than any other country , except Belgium. The Giro d'Italia is a world-famous long-distance cycling race held every May, and constitutes one of the three Grand Tours , along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España , each of which last approximately three weeks. The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1909, except during
3650-741: Is at the 10th place in the ranking of most popular sports, even considering the high number of people who engage in body building gym , as amateur, just to keep fit themselves. Combat sports are participated and followed sports. There are many national and international events every year. Olympic disciplines, horse racing ( ippica in Italian ), equestrian vaulting ( volteggio a cavallo in Italian ), polo , and rodeo are participated and followed sports. There are many national and international events every year. Notable Italian equestrian are Gian Giorgio Trissino , Piero D'Inzeo , Raimondo D'Inzeo , Graziano Mancinelli and Mauro Checcoli . Hippodrome of San Siro ( Italian : Ippodromo di San Siro )
3796-643: Is controlled by the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio (FISG), a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation . Italy men's national ice hockey team ranks 17th in the IIHF World Ranking (2022). Italian Hockey League - Serie A , formerly known as Serie A , is the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy , which first began play in 1925. They are conducted under the authority of
3942-433: Is followed by millions of fans around the world. Other popular team sports in Italy include basketball , volleyball , waterpolo and rugby . Italy's male and female national volleyball teams are often featured among the world's best . The Italian national basketball team 's best results were gold at Eurobasket 1983 and EuroBasket 1999 , as well as silver at the Olympics in 1980 and 2004 . Lega Basket Serie A
4088-606: Is governed by the Italian Rugby Federation . Rugby was introduced into Italy in the early 1900s. It is also known as pallovale or palla ovale ("oval ball") within Italy. The governing body of Italian rugby union is the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR). An original organisational committee was established in 1911, although it was in 1928 when the body became the FIR, and in 1987, it joined
4234-437: Is no scholarly consensus as to when the Games officially ended, the most commonly held date is 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I decreed that all pagan cults and practices be eliminated. Another date commonly cited is 426 AD, when his successor, Theodosius II , ordered the destruction of all Greek temples. Various uses of the term "Olympic" to describe athletic events in the modern era have been documented since
4380-443: Is one of the largest selling newspapers in Italy. Stadiums have also become more than a place to watch a football game today. All across Italy, stadiums now include various different things such as museums, shops, and restaurants for the people attending the game to enjoy. Italian football stadiums also host other venues such as concerts, rugby matches, and field and track. Italy takes pride in their football stadiums and have some of
4526-562: Is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Beach tennis with paddle racquet was invented by Italians, and is practiced by many people across the country. The five most successful Italian tennis players with regard to Grand Slam tournament results are Nicola Pietrangeli ( 1959 French Championships and 1960 French Championships ), Adriano Panatta ( 1976 French Open ), Francesca Schiavone ( 2010 French Open ), Flavia Pennetta ( 2015 US Open ) and Jannik Sinner ( 2024 Australian Open ). The Italy Davis Cup team won
Interamnia World Cup - Misplaced Pages Continue
4672-579: Is played by over 90,000 registered players, as of 2021. There are several male and female professional players, with notable current players including Costantino Rocca , the brothers Edoardo , and Francesco Molinari , and Matteo Manassero . The most important tournament is the Italian Open . The Molinari brothers won the World Cup of Golf in 2009 . The Ryder Cup 2023 will also take place in Rome for
4818-743: Is the Stadio Olimpico . This stadium is the second largest in Italy and is where the rival teams AS Roma and SS Lazio play. The two clubs meet twice a year and the matches between these two clubs are known as the Derby della Capitale (Derby of the Capital). Also, the Stadio Olimpico holds the Coppa Italia Final. Being a football country, Italy has some all-time great players that have played for them. More players have won
4964-463: Is the championship's most successful club with eleven titles in a row between 1986 and 1996, while Jomi Salerno has been the most successful team in the 21st century so far with seven titles between 2004 and 2019. Ice hockey ( hockey su ghiaccio in Italian ) is popular mainly in the Northern Italy . The Italy men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of Italy, and
5110-694: Is the leader of the general classification and wears the pink jersey . Two of the five ' Monuments ', the oldest and most prestigious one-day races on the cycling calendar, are located in Italy: Milan–San Remo , held in March, and Giro di Lombardia , held in September or October. The Milan–San Remo, also called " The Spring classic " or " La Classicissima ", is an annual road cycling race between Milan and Sanremo , in Northwest Italy . With
5256-663: Is where the rival teams AC Milan and Internazionale play. The two clubs meet twice a year and the matches between these two clubs are known as the Derby della Madonnina . It is called Derby della Madonnina in honour of one of the main sights in the city of Milan, the statue of the Virgin Mary on the top of the Duomo , which is often referred to as the Madonnina ("Little Madonna" in Italian). Another famous stadium in Italy
5402-676: Is widely considered one of the most competitive in Europe. Italy's rugby national team competes in the Six Nations Championship , and is a regular at the Rugby World Cup . The men's volleyball team won three consecutive World Championships (in 1990, 1994, and 1998) and earned the Olympic silver medal in 1996, 2004, and 2016. Italy has a long and successful tradition in individual sports as well. Bicycle racing
5548-559: The 1904 Summer Olympics . Italian sportsmen have won 618 medals at the Summer Olympic Games , and another 141 at the Winter Olympic Games , for a combined total of 759 medals with 259 golds, which makes them the sixth most successful nation in Olympic history for total medals. The country hosted two Winter Olympics and will host a third (in 1956 , 2006 , and 2026 ), and one Summer games (in 1960 ). This list, published by Italian National Olympic Committee , refers to
5694-604: The 1976 Davis Cup and the 2023 Davis Cup , and the Italy Fed Cup team won four times the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Italian players such as Sara Errani , Flavia Pennetta , Roberta Vinci and Francesca Schiavone have entered the WTA Top 10 in their careers. Schiavone was the first Italian player to win a Grand Slam singles title, winning the 2010 French Open ; she was later followed by Pennetta, who won
5840-670: The 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, the host city for the Olympics has also played host to the Paralympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) signed an agreement in 2001 which guaranteed that host cities would be contracted to manage both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The agreement came into effect at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, and at
5986-643: The 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Two years before the 2012 Games, the LOCOG chairman Lord Coe made the following statement about the Paralympics and Olympics in London: We want to change public attitudes towards disability, celebrate the excellence of Paralympic sport and to enshrine from the very outset that the two Games are an integrated whole. In 2010, the Olympic Games were complemented by
Interamnia World Cup - Misplaced Pages Continue
6132-407: The 2015 US Open . The doubles duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci have accomplished a Career Grand Slam in doubles, have been named ITF World Champions 3 years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014) and have ended every season since 2012 as World No. 1. In 2019, Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian in singles to reach the final of Wimbledon . Jannik Sinner is currently the top Italian player in
6278-542: The 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics combined, in 40 different sports and 448 events. The first-, second-, and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals : gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. The Games have grown to the point that nearly every nation is now represented; colonies and overseas territories are often allowed to field their own teams. This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies , including boycotts , doping , match fixing , bribery, and terrorism. Every two years,
6424-428: The 2028 Games to Los Angeles. Both of the bids were praised for high technical plans and innovative ways to use a record-breaking number of existing and temporary facilities. The Olympic Movement encompasses a large number of national and international sporting organisations and federations, recognised media partners, as well as athletes, officials, judges, and every other person and institution that agrees to abide by
6570-549: The ATP rankings , while Jasmine Paolini is currently the top Italian player in the WTA rankings . Volleyball ( pallavolo in Italian ) is played by a lot of amateur players. The Italian Volleyball League and Italian Women's Volleyball League are held since 1946. Modena Volley won 12 neb's titles, Volley Treviso nine, and Parma eight. Teodora Pallavolo Ravenna won 11 women's titles, Bergamo eight, and Audax Modena five. In
6716-616: The Blue Team is the national American football team for Italy. They have been successful, having won the European championship three times, and been runner up three times. They won the 2021 IFAF European Championship, its third European title, having also won in 1983 and 1985. The best result at the IFAF World Championship was 4th place at the 1999 IFAF World Championship . Gymnastics ( ginnastica in Italian )
6862-563: The CEV Champions League , Modena and Treviso won four titles each, Porto Ravenna and Trentino Volley three, Parma two, and CUS Torino and Volley Lube one. In the CEV Women's Champions League , Bergamo won seven titles, Olimpia Teodora Ravenna Sirio Perugia and Matera two each, and Modena and Casalmaggiore won one each. The Italy men's national volleyball team is one of the most successful national teams in
7008-565: The Deaflympics and the Special Olympics . The IOC need to adapt to a variety of economic, political, and technological advancements. The abuse of amateur rules prompted the IOC to shift away from pure amateurism , as envisioned by Coubertin, to the acceptance of professional athletes participating at the Games. The growing importance of mass media has created the issue of corporate sponsorship and general commercialisation of
7154-792: The FIFA Futsal World Cup and the European Championships and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation . It is one of the strongest teams in Europe , champions in the 2003 UEFA Futsal Championship and UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 . The Italy national futsal team has appeared in the final match of the FIFA Futsal World Cup once ( 2004 ) as well as two third/fourth place playoffs. Motorsports ( sport motoristici in Italian ) in Italy have an important tradition and are very popular. Golf
7300-792: The Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio (FISG). The league initially merged with the Inter-National League to become the Alps Hockey League in 2016. Italian teams in the Alps Hockey League also compete in the Italian Hockey League - Serie A. The league was known as Elite.A during the 2013–14 season, and as Italian Hockey League - Elite during the 2017-2018 season. The Italy national futsal team represents Italy in international futsal ( calcetto in Italian ) competitions such as
7446-584: The G-14 , a group which represented the largest and most prestigious European football clubs; Serie A was the only league to produce three founding members. Juventus, Milan and Inter, along with Roma , Fiorentina , Lazio and historically Parma , but now Napoli , are known as the Seven Sisters of Italian football. The Italian word for soccer is calcio , "kick", taken from the name of Italy's traditional football games, as opposed to being adapted from
SECTION 50
#17327726556467592-685: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement , which encompasses all entities and individuals involved in the Olympic Games. The Olympic Charter defines their structure and authority. The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in numerous changes to
7738-506: The International Rugby Board . In 1934 the FIR became a founding member of the Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur . Rugby union's traditional heartland consisted of the small country towns in the Po Valley , and other parts of Northern Italy . One version says that Italian workers returning from France, particularly the south, introduced the game there, and gave it a significant rural/working class base, which still exists in towns such as Treviso and Rovigo . A demonstration game
7884-410: The LBA since its inception. Seventeen teams have been crowned champions, with Olimpia Milano having won the title a record 28 times, and Virtus Bologna 16 times. According to FIBA Europe 's and Euroleague Basketball 's national league coefficients , the LBA was the historically top ranked national domestic league in Europe , for the period 1958 to 2007. Today, the LBA is considered to be one of
8030-412: The Paris Exposition in 1900 and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904 failed to attract much participation or notice. Of the 650 athletes in the 1904 Olympics, 580 were American; the winner of the marathon was later disqualified upon discovery of a photograph of him riding in a car during the race. The Games rebounded with the 1906 Intercalated Games (so-called because they were
8176-457: The Stoke Mandeville Games , Guttmann's event became an annual sports festival. Over the next 12 years, Guttmann and others continued their efforts to use sports as an avenue to healing. In 1960, Guttmann brought 400 athletes to Rome to compete in the "Parallel Olympics", which ran in parallel with the Summer Olympics and came to be known as the first Paralympics . Since then, the Paralympics have been held in every Olympic year and, starting with
8322-488: The Women's European Volleyball Championship three times ( 2007 , 2009 and 2021 ) and the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League once ( 2022 ). The Italian national teams have won both the 2021 Women's European Volleyball Championship and Men's European Volleyball Championship in the same year. This also makes them the only country to have won the UEFA European Championship , Women's European Volleyball Championship and Men's European Volleyball Championship all in
8468-479: The World Cup , the closest they have come to winning a medal was in 1970 and 1978 , where they finished fourth. In 12 attempts at the Summer Olympics , Italy has earned two silver medals, in 1980 and 2004 . Currently, Italy is ranked 10th in the FIBA World Rankings . Italy women's national basketball team at the European Women's Basketball Championship the Italian team won gold medal in 1938 and bronze medal in 1974 . A total of 99 teams have competed in
8614-486: The summer solstice —usually late August or early September. This "came after the annual harvest but before the picking of the olives." Heralds were sent from Elis to announce the dates. Competition at first was among only "legitimate sons of free-born Greek parents." However, after Macedonia, and then Rome, conquered Greece, the ten Olympic judges loosened the earlier standard and permitted anyone who spoke Greek to participate. Tens of thousands of Greeks would make
8760-513: The 17th century. The first such event was the Cotswold Games or "Cotswold Olimpick Games", an annual meeting near Chipping Campden , England, involving various sports. It was first organised by the lawyer Robert Dover between 1612 and 1642, with several later celebrations leading up to the present day. The British Olympic Association , in its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, mentioned these games as "the first stirrings of Britain's Olympic beginnings". L'Olympiade de la République ,
8906-427: The 1984 Summer Games by using existing facilities and only two new that were paid for by corporate sponsors. The Organizing Committee led by Peter Ueberroth used some of the profits to endow the LA84 Foundation to promote youth sports in Southern California , educate coaches and maintain a sports library. The 1984 Summer Olympics are often considered until that date, the most financially successful modern Olympics and
SECTION 60
#17327726556469052-417: The American rights. In the following decades, the Olympics became one of the ideological fronts of the Cold War, and the International Olympic Committee wanted to take advantage of this heightened interest via the broadcast medium. The sale of broadcast rights enabled the IOC to increase the exposure of the Olympic Games, thereby generating more interest, which in turn enhanced the appeal of TV air time to
9198-409: The English name football or soccer , as in most other languages. Often, Italian children can be seen playing on the street with friends and relatives. The history of football in Italy gives much of the explanation behind why it has remained such a popular sport today. The first record of an Italian football team goes back to 1893. This team was named FC Genoa . The sport was brought to Italy through
9344-470: The Games. World Wars I and II led to the cancellation of the 1916 , 1940 , and 1944 Olympics; large-scale boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics; and the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 restrictions . The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and organising committees for each specific Olympic Games. As
9490-398: The Heineken Cup and now as the European Rugby Champions Cup , and four Eccellenza sides compete in the second-tier European Rugby Challenge Cup . Italy's national team competes since 2000 in the Six Nations Championship , and is a regular at the Rugby World Cup , despite having yet to pass the group stage. Italy are classed as a tier-one nation by World Rugby . Rugby union in Italy
9636-405: The ICC World Cricket League Division 4. The Serie A is the name of the highest level handball ( pallamano in Italian ) league of Italy . Pallamano Trieste is the championship's most successful club with seventeen titles. The Serie A1 is the premier division of the Italian women's handball national league. Established in 1970, it is currently contested by 13 clubs. PF Cassano Magnago
9782-421: The IOC took control of sponsorship, the NOCs had responsibility for negotiating their own contracts for sponsorship and use of the Olympic symbols. The IOC originally resisted funding by corporate sponsors. It was not until the retirement of IOC President Avery Brundage , in 1972, that the IOC began to explore the potential of the television medium and the lucrative advertising markets available to them. Under
9928-424: The IOC's decision-making. His resistance to this revenue stream meant the IOC left organising committees to negotiate their own sponsorship contracts and use the Olympic symbols. When Brundage retired, the IOC had US$ 2 million in assets; eight years later the IOC coffers had swelled to US$ 45 million. This was primarily due to a shift in ideology toward expansion of the Games through corporate sponsorship and
10074-629: The IOC, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Although nothing strictly illegal had occurred, it was felt that the acceptance of the gifts was morally dubious. As a result of the investigation, ten members of the IOC were expelled and a further ten sanctioned. Stricter rules were adopted for future bids, and caps were introduced to define how much IOC members could accept from bid cities. Additionally, new term and age limits were put into place for IOC membership, and fifteen former Olympic athletes were added to
10220-465: The Olympic Games. He felt that the Olympics "is worthy of study because it is one of the biggest meetings in a global context and has many political, economic, and other problems associated with it". He began Olympika in 1992, the first peer-reviewed academic journal focused on the Olympic Games. The International Society of Olympic Historians was founded in 1991, which publishes the Journal of Olympic History . Some economists are sceptical about
10366-419: The Olympic Games. Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Olympic Games for snow and ice sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities, the Youth Olympic Games for athletes aged 14 to 18, the five Continental Games ( Pan American , African , Asian , European , and Pacific ), and the World Games for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The IOC also endorses
10512-596: The Olympic symbol, the interlocking rings , in their publications and advertisements. The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin were the first Games to be broadcast on television, though only to local audiences. The 1956 Winter Olympics in Italy were the first internationally televised Olympic Games, and the broadcasting rights for the following Winter Games in California were sold for the first time to specialised television broadcasting networks— CBS paid US$ 394,000 for
10658-443: The Olympics and its media exposure provide athletes with the chance to attain national and international fame. The Games also provide an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world. The Olympic Games have become a significant global event, fostering international cooperation and cultural exchange. At the same time, hosting the Olympic Games can also bring significant economic benefits and challenges to
10804-576: The Olympics displaced more than two million people over two decades, often disproportionately affecting disadvantaged groups. The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi were the most expensive Olympic Games in history, costing in excess of US$ 50 billion. According to a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development released at the time of the games, the cost would not boost Russia's national economy, but could attract business to Sochi and
10950-570: The Olympics in 1870 and 1875. Thirty thousand spectators attended that Games in 1870, though no official attendance records are available for the 1875 Games. In 1890, after attending the Olympian Games of the Wenlock Olympian Society , Baron Pierre de Coubertin , who aimed to promote international peace and friendship through sports, was inspired to found the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coubertin built on
11096-578: The Romans , who used to play a very similar game called harpastum , which included two teams aiming to score on their opponents side (hands could be used along with feet). Years later, the Renaissance brought about big changes for not only the art and culture of Italy, but also for sport. Specifically, Florence was the spot where the most changes occurred. Football of the past was different from that of today as teams were much larger with 27 people. Also,
11242-565: The Summer Olympics has a positive effect on the philanthropic contributions of corporations headquartered in the host city, which seems to benefit the local nonprofit sector. This effect begins in the years leading up to the Games and might persist for several years afterwards, though not permanently. The Games have had significant negative effects on host communities; for example, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions reports that
11388-660: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics was reported to be JPY 1,423.8 billion (US$ 13 billion). This was achieved by balancing revenues and expenditures through various efforts to increase revenue and continuously review expenditures. The primary sources of revenue included the International Olympic Committee (IOC) contribution of JPY 86.8 billion (US$ 0.8 billion), TOP sponsorship of JPY 56.9 billion (US$ 0.5 billion), local sponsorship of JPY 376.1 billion (US$ 3.4 billion), an insurance payout of JPY 50 billion (US$ 0.5 billion) for
11534-454: The Top10 competition. Notable Italian players include Ivan Francescato , Paolo Vaccari , Carlo Checchinato , Massimo Giovanelli , Mauro and Mirco Bergamasco , and Sergio Parisse . Tennis has a significant following near courts and by television. Italian professional tennis players are always in the top 100 world's ranking of male and female players. The Rome Masters , founded in 1930,
11680-722: The United States. The Italian Baseball League is the highest level of professional baseball in Italy. The Italy national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Italy in international cricket matches. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1995, having previously been an affiliate member since 1984. The team is administered by the Federazione Cricket Italiana (Italian Cricket Federation). They are currently ranked 25th in
11826-599: The Youth Games, which give athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 the chance to compete. The Youth Olympic Games were conceived by IOC president Jacques Rogge in 2001 and approved during the 119th Congress of the IOC. The first Summer Youth Games were held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010, while the inaugural Winter Games were hosted in Innsbruck , Austria, two years later. These Games will be shorter than
11972-527: The allegation was never fully explored. Turin 's bid to host the 2006 Winter Olympics was also clouded by controversy; a prominent IOC member, Marc Hodler , closely connected to the rival bid of Sion , alleged bribery of IOC officials by members of the Turin Organising Committee. These accusations led to a wide-ranging investigation, and also served to sour many IOC members against Sion's bid which potentially helped Turin to capture
12118-471: The athletes and officials are housed in the Olympic Village for the duration of the Games. This accommodation centre is designed to be a self-contained home for all Olympic participants, and is furnished with cafeterias, health clinics, and locations for religious expression. The IOC has allowed the formation of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to represent individual nations. These do not meet
12264-655: The auspices of the IOC would take place in Athens in 1896. The IOC elected the Greek writer Demetrius Vikelas as its first president. The first Games held under the auspices of the IOC were hosted in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens in 1896. The Games brought together 14 nations and 241 athletes who competed in 43 events. Zappas and his cousin Konstantinos Zappas had left the Greek government
12410-561: The budget announced in December 2020, and JPY 29.2 billion (US$ 0.3 billion) from the estimated budget in December 2021. This successful financial management resulted in a balanced budget for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Seeking a scholarly institution to independently research the Games, Bob Barney led efforts to establish the International Centre for Olympic Studies in 1989, endeavouring to write about sociocultural impacts of
12556-464: The commercialisation of the Olympic Games, even as these attitudes came to be seen as incongruous with the realities of modern sports. The advent of state-sponsored athletes from the Eastern Bloc countries further eroded the ideology of the pure amateur , as it placed self-financed amateurs of Western countries at a disadvantage. Brundage was accused of antisemitism and of racism in resisting
12702-419: The committee. Nevertheless, from sporting and business standpoints, the 2002 Olympics were one of the most successful Winter Games in history; records were set in both the broadcasting and marketing programs. Over 2 billion viewers watched more than 13 billion viewer-hours. The 2002 Games were also a financial success, raising more money with fewer sponsors than any prior Olympic Games, leaving SLOC with
12848-594: The country. Motorsports are also extremely popular in Italy. Italy has won, by far, the most MotoGP World Championships . Italian Scuderia Ferrari is the oldest surviving team in Grand Prix racing, having competed since 1948, and statistically the most successful Formula One team in history . Historically, Italy has been successful in the Olympic Games , taking part from the first Olympiad and in 47 Games out of 48, not having officially participated in
12994-540: The coveted Ballon d'Or award while playing in Serie A than any other league in the world, except La Liga . Fabio Cannavaro played professional football from 1992 to 2011. He is among only one of three defenders to have been named FIFA's Player of the Year. Cannavaro won the award in 2006 which is the same year he also helped Italy reach the finals of the World Cup. Another one of Italy's all-time great football players
13140-484: The decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Games, and organises and funds the Games according to the Olympic Charter . The IOC also determines the Olympic programme, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games. There are several Olympic rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag , torch , and opening and closing ceremonies . Over 14,000 athletes competed at
13286-403: The difficult journey to attend the festival. Some sources say as many as 40,000 attended. These Games featured mainly athletic but also combat sports such as wrestling and the pankration , horse and chariot racing events. It has been widely written that during the Games, all conflicts among the participating city-states were postponed until the Games were finished. This cessation of hostilities
13432-400: The economic benefits of hosting the Olympic Games, emphasising that such "mega-events" often have large costs while yielding relatively few tangible benefits in the long run. Hosting (or even bidding for) the Olympics appears to increase the host country's exports, as the host or candidate country sends a signal about trade openness when bidding to host the Games. Research suggests that hosting
13578-511: The establishment of new NOCs to represent nations that qualify as "an independent State recognised by the international community". Consequently, the IOC did not allow the formation of NOCs for Sint Maarten and Curaçao when they gained the same constitutional status as Aruba in 2010, although the IOC had recognised the Aruban Olympic Committee in 1986. Since 2012, athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles have had
13724-662: The exclusion of South Africa . Under the Samaranch presidency, the office was accused of both nepotism and corruption. Samaranch's ties with the Franco regime in Spain were also a source of criticism. In 1998, it was reported that several IOC members had taken gifts from members of the Salt Lake City bid committee for the hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics . There were soon four independent investigations underway: by
13870-486: The experience of hosting an Olympic Games. This feeling was shared by many of the athletes, who even demanded that Athens be the permanent Olympic host city. The IOC intended for subsequent Games to be rotated to various host cities around the world. The second Olympics was held in Paris. After the success of the 1896 Games, the Olympics entered a period of stagnation which threatened its survival. The Olympic Games held at
14016-552: The festival's second day. (Pelops was famous for his chariot race with King Oenomaus of Pisatis . ) The winners of the events were admired and immortalised in poems and statues. Although a wreath made from the sacred olive tree in the precinct of Zeus was the only official prize at the Olympic Games, winners' fame brought them economic wealth, too, in the form of subsidies from their hometowns and wealthy sponsors. See, e.g., Finley and Pleket, and Perrottet The Games were held every four years, and this period, known as an Olympiad ,
14162-511: The financial records after the IOC requested that the entertainment expenditures should not be made public. In July 2000, when the Los Angeles Times reported on the tangled nature of how the IOC redistributes profits from sponsorships and broadcasting rights , Olympic historian Bob Barney stated that he had "yet to see matters of corruption in the IOC", but noted there were "matters of unaccountability". He later noted that when
14308-617: The first time. Italian Football League (IFL) is the top level American football ( football americano in Italian ) league in Italy established in 1980. The annual final play-off game to determine the league champion is called the Italian Bowl , that awards the title of "champion of Italy" and the scudetto . Italian teams that have won the Eurobowl have been Legnano Frogs (1989) and Bergamo Lions (2000, 2001 and 2002). The Italy national American football team , nicknamed
14454-717: The first to be wholly amateur in nature and international in outlook, although only 'gentlemen amateurs' could compete. The programme of the first modern Olympiad in Athens in 1896 was almost identical to that of the Liverpool Olympics. In 1865 Hulley, Brookes and E.G. Ravenstein founded the National Olympian Association in Liverpool, a forerunner of the British Olympic Association . Its articles of foundation provided
14600-742: The framework for the International Olympic Charter . In 1866, a national Olympic Games in Great Britain was organised at London's Crystal Palace . Greek interest in reviving the Olympic Games began with the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. It was first proposed by poet and newspaper editor Panagiotis Soutsos in his poem "Dialogue of the Dead", published in 1833. Evangelos Zappas ,
14746-604: The games were only 50 minutes long. Today, the games consist of two 45 minute halves. The Italy National team first began playing in 1910 in the FIFA World Cup. To the surprise of many fans, the Italy National Team did not qualify for the tournament in 2017. This was the first time in sixty years that the team did not make the World Cup after losing to Sweden . The loss was published in popular sport newspapers in Italy such as La Gazzetta dello Sport , which
14892-597: The games. In 1850, an Olympian Class was started by William Penny Brookes at Much Wenlock , in Shropshire , England. In 1859, Brookes changed the name to the Wenlock Olympian Games . This annual sports festival continues to this day. The Wenlock Olympian Society was founded by Brookes on 15 November 1860. Between 1862 and 1867, Liverpool held an annual Grand Olympic Festival. Devised by John Hulley and Charles Pierre Melly , these games were
15038-497: The history of volleyball, having won four World Championships ( 1990 , 1994 , 1998 and 2022 ), seven European Championships ( 1989 , 1993 , 1995 , 1999 , 2003 , 2005 and 2021 ), one World Cup ( 1995 ) and eight World League ( 1990 , 1991 , 1992 , 1994 , 1995 , 1997 , 1999 and 2000 ). The Italy women's national volleyball team won the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship once ( 2002 ),
15184-538: The host city nomination. The Olympic Games have been commercialised to various degrees since the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, when a number of companies paid for advertising, including Kodak . In 1908, Oxo , Odol [ de ] mouthwash, and Indian Foot Powder became official sponsors of the London Olympic Games . Coca-Cola first sponsored the Summer Olympics in 1928 , and has remained an Olympic sponsor ever since. Before
15330-468: The host city, affecting infrastructure, tourism and local communities. The Ancient Olympic Games ( Ancient Greek : τὰ Ὀλύμπια , ta Olympia ) were religious and athletic festivals held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia, Greece . The date of the festival was determined according to a complicated formula whereby the midpoint of the festival would occur during the second full moon after
15476-484: The host country is an English or French speaking country: French is always spoken first, followed by an English translation, and then the dominant language of the host nation (when this is not English or French). The IOC has often been accused of being an intractable organisation, with several life members on the committee. The presidential terms of Avery Brundage and Juan Antonio Samaranch were especially controversial. Brundage fought strongly for amateurism and against
15622-541: The ideas and work of Brookes and Zappas with the aim of establishing internationally rotating Olympic Games that would occur every four years. He presented these ideas during the first Olympic Congress of the newly created International Olympic Committee. This meeting was held from 16 to 23 June 1894, at the University of Paris . On the last day of the Congress, it was decided that the first Olympic Games to come under
15768-637: The last events on the UCI World Tour calendar. Nicknamed the Classica delle foglie morte ("the Classic of the falling (dead) leaves"), it is the most important Autumn Classic in cycling. The race's most famous climb is the Madonna del Ghisallo in the race finale. Because of its demanding course, the race is considered a climbers classic , favouring climbers with a strong sprint finish. Some of
15914-432: The leadership of Juan Antonio Samaranch , the Games began to shift toward international sponsors who sought to link their products to the Olympic brand. During the first half of the 20th century, the IOC ran on a small budget. As president of the IOC from 1952 to 1972, Avery Brundage rejected all attempts to link the Olympics with commercial interest. He believed that the lobby of corporate interests would unduly impact
16060-763: The most expensive Winter Games were Sochi 2014 at US$ 51 billion. As of 2016, costs per athlete were, on average, US$ 599,000 for the Summer Games and $ 1.3 million for the Winter Games; for London 2012, the cost per athlete was $ 1.4 million, and the figure was $ 7.9 million for Sochi 2014. Where ambitious construction for the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow had burdened organisers with expenses greatly in excess of revenues, Los Angeles strictly controlled expenses for
16206-605: The most famous Italian athletes, there's the sprinter Pietro Mennea (1952-2013) who held the 200 metres world record (19:72) for 17 years from 1979 to 1996 and is still holder of the European record. Other notable Italian athletes are Ugo Frigerio , Ondina Valla , Adolfo Consolini , Pino Dordoni , Abdon Pamich , Livio Berruti , Sara Simeoni , Gabriella Dorio , Alberto Cova , Gelindo Bordin , Stefano Baldini , Maurizio Damilano , Dorando Pietri , Paola Pigni , Luigi Beccali , Alessandro Andrei , Gianmarco Tamberi and Marcell Jacobs . Cycling ( ciclismo in Italian )
16352-423: The most successful Italian road cyclists have been Costante Girardengo , Fausto Coppi , Gino Bartali , Alfredo Binda , Felice Gimondi , Fiorenzo Magni , Mario Cipollini , Francesco Moser , Marco Pantani , Moreno Argentin , Paolo Bettini , Michele Bartoli , Gianni Bugno , Alessandro Petacchi and Vincenzo Nibali . Rugby union ( rugby a 15 in Italian ) enjoys a good level of popularity, especially in
16498-495: The most valuable flat race in Italy, the Derby Italiano , which was downgraded to Group 2 status in 2009. The Pferderennplatz Meran ( Italian : Ippodromo di Maia ) is an Italian racecourse, located in the town of Meran , South Tyrol , used for thoroughbred horse racing . It is one of the leading racecourses in Italy, hosting the annual Grosser Preis von Meran (Grand Prix of Meran). As Meran grew in importance as
16644-623: The most well known in the world. Most Italian stadiums have stadium tours where children six and under are allowed to go for free . The city of Milan stadium, which is also known as the San Siro stadium, has the biggest seating capacity in Italy with 80,018 seats. The stadium is also known in the country as "La Scala del Calcio." It is also known as the "Giuseppe Meazza" stadium after the Italian star, Giuseppe Meazza . The San Siro stadium has hosted four UEFA Champions League finals. This stadium
16790-492: The north of the country. From the 2010–11 season, Italy has had two teams in the Pro12 , previously an all- Celtic competition, involving teams from Ireland , Scotland , and Wales . To accommodate this move, the country's National Championship of Excellence effectively became a semi-professional developmental competition. The two Pro12 sides took up Italy's existing places in the elite Europe-wide club competition, then known as
16936-422: The official languages of the Olympic Movement. The other language used at each Olympic Games is the language of the host country (or languages, if a country has more than one official language apart from French or English). Every proclamation (such as the announcement of each country during the parade of nations in the opening ceremony) is spoken in these three (or more) languages, or the main two depending on whether
17082-538: The option to represent either the Netherlands or Aruba . The Oxford Olympics Study 2016 found that, since 1960, sports-related costs for the Summer Games were on average US$ 5.2 billion and for the Winter Games $ 3.1 billion. These figures do not include wider infrastructure costs like roads, urban rail, and airports, which often cost as much or more than the sports-related costs. The most expensive Summer Games were Beijing 2008 at US$ 40–44 billion, and
17228-421: The postponement of the Games, and other sources including licensing. The expenditures included JPY 195.5 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) for venue-related costs and JPY 444.9 billion (US$ 4 billion) for service expenditures. The total cost also accounted for COVID-19 countermeasures amounting to JPY 35.3 billion (US$ 0.3 billion). Despite initial estimates, the total costs were reduced by JPY 220.2 billion (US$ 2 billion) from
17374-545: The progenitors of the Games. According to legend, it was Heracles who first called the Games "Olympic" and established the custom of holding them every four years. The myth continues that after Heracles completed his twelve labours , he built the Olympic Stadium as an honour to Zeus. Following its completion, he walked in a straight line for 200 steps and called this distance a " stadion " (Ancient Greek: στάδιον , Latin : stadium , "stage"), which later became
17520-618: The racecourse. It is owned by Snaitech. Capannelle Racecourse ( Italian : Ippodromo delle Capannelle ) is a horse racing venue in Rome . The course was constructed in 1881, and it was rebuilt in 1926 to a design by Paolo Vietti-Violi . It was recently the venue of two Group 1 flat races – the Premio Lydia Tesio (downgraded to Group 2 in 2019) and the Premio Roma (downgraded to Group 2 in 2017). The track also stages
17666-475: The rules of the Olympic Charter. As the umbrella organisation of the Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is responsible for selecting the host city, overseeing the planning of the Olympic Games, updating and approving the Olympic sports programme, and negotiating sponsorship and broadcasting rights. The Olympic Movement is made of three major elements: French and English are
17812-456: The sale of television rights. When Juan Antonio Samaranch was elected IOC president in 1980, his desire was to make the IOC financially independent. The 1984 Summer Olympics became a watershed moment in Olympic history. The Los Angeles-based organising committee, led by Peter Ueberroth , was able to generate a surplus of US$ 225 million, which was an unprecedented amount at that time. The organising committee had been able to create such
17958-497: The same year. Italy featured a women's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup . Winter sports ( sport invernali in Italian ), are popular in Italy. Among them, Italians excel in cross-country skiing ( sci di fondo in Italian ), but also in luge ( slittino in Italian ), with the two time Olympic gold medal winner Armin Zoeggeler . In Italy, bodybuilding
18104-449: The second Olympics to take place within the third Olympiad), which were held in Athens. These Games attracted a broad international field of participants and generated a great deal of public interest, marking the beginning of a rise in both the popularity and the size of the Olympics. The 1906 Games were officially recognised by the IOC at the time (although not any longer), and no Intercalated Games have been held since. The Winter Olympics
18250-585: The second most goals scored for Italy all time since he is only two goals behind Gigi Riva . Giuseppe won two World Cup's with Italy as well as winning three Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia title. Italy has a long and rich tradition in basketball ( pallacanestro in Italian ). The Italy men's national basketball team has qualified for 38 EuroBasket tournaments, winning two gold medals ( 1983 , 1999 ), four silver medals ( 1937 , 1946 , 1991 , 1997 ), and four bronze medals ( 1971 , 1975 , 1985 , 2003 ) as achievements. While Italy has made nine trips to
18396-583: The senior Games; the summer version will last twelve days, while the winter version will last nine days. The IOC allows 3,500 athletes and 875 officials to participate at the Summer Youth Games, and 970 athletes and 580 officials at the Winter Youth Games. The sports to be contested will coincide with those scheduled for the senior Games, however there will be variations on the sports including mixed NOC and mixed gender teams as well as
18542-430: The southern Krasnodar region of Russia as a result of improved services. But by December 2014, eight months after the games The Guardian stated that Sochi "now feels like a ghost town", citing the spread-out nature of the stadiums and arenas and the still-unfinished infrastructure. At least four cities withdrew their bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics , citing the high costs or lack of local support, resulting in only
18688-420: The spotlight is on the athletes, it has "the power to eclipse impressions of scandal or corruption", with respect to the Olympic bid process. An August 2004, a BBC documentary, Panorama : Buying the Games , reported the results of an investigation into bribes allegedly used in the bidding process for the 2012 Summer Olympics . The documentary claimed that it was possible to bribe IOC members into voting for
18834-405: The strict requirements for political sovereignty that other international organisations demand. As a result, colonies and dependencies are permitted to compete at Olympic Games, examples being territories such as Puerto Rico , Bermuda , and Hong Kong , all of which compete as separate nations despite being legally a part of another country. The current version of the Olympic Charter allows for
18980-537: The team soared to first place, winning the gold medal and becoming the new queens, a feat they achieved again at the 2010 Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Moscow. The celebration of Italian gymnastics is because they are among the best squads in the world, facing competitions against the Eastern European block of nations: Belarus , Russia, and Bulgaria . Vanessa Ferrari was multiple world and European champion of artistic gymnastics. Rugby league ( rugby
19126-545: The top European national basketball leagues. Its clubs have won the most EuroLeague championships ( 13 ), the most FIBA Saporta Cups ( 15 ), and the most FIBA Korać Cups ( 10 ). Famous Italian club teams include Olimpia Milano , Virtus Bologna , Pallacanestro Varese , Pallacanestro Cantù , Fortitudo Bologna , Victoria Libertas , Pallacanestro Treviso , Mens Sana 1871 , Virtus Roma , Pallacanestro Trieste , JuveCaserta and Scaligera Verona . The governing body of Athletics ( atletica leggera in Italian ) in Italy
19272-454: The two world wars . As the Giro gained prominence and popularity the race was lengthened, and the peloton expanded from primarily Italian participation to riders from all over the world. The Giro is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI WorldTeams , with some additional teams invited as 'wild cards'. The rider with the lowest aggregate time
19418-450: The war. The Italy national baseball team is traditionally ranked as the second best team in Europe, behind the Dutch national team . Italy's performance during the Olympics has been consistently high for a European team, but is noted for its reliance on American and Latino players of Italian descent. The highest level of play in Italy today is considered to be on par with Class A ball in
19564-405: The winner, e.g. "the third year of the eighteenth Olympiad when Ladas of Argos won the stadion." The Ancient Games varied over time, but they came to feature running events, a pentathlon (consisting of a jumping event, discus and javelin throws, a foot race, and wrestling), boxing, wrestling, pankration , and equestrian events. Tradition has it that Coroebus , a cook from the city of Elis ,
19710-603: The world and it is often depicted as the most tactical national football league. Serie A clubs have seen success in the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) , the premier European club competition, winning it twelve times. Italy's club sides have won 48 major European trophies, making them the second most successful nation in European football. Serie A hosts three of the world's most famous clubs as Juventus , Milan and Inter , all founding members of
19856-537: The world by the ICC , and are ranked fifth amongst European non-Test teams. The Italy national cricket team has won several European Cricket tournaments, and the popularity of cricket is rising. All the Italian cricketers are home grown cricketers, and they had a well off position in the recent European Indoor Cricket Tournament and the European Cricket Championship . They recently participated in
20002-442: The world's leading international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions . The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition, with more than 200 teams, representing sovereign states and territories, participating. By default, the Games generally substitute for any world championships during
20148-485: The year in which they take place (however, each class usually maintains its own records). The Olympics are staged every four years. Since 1994 , they have alternated between the Summer and Winter Olympics every two years during the four-year Olympiad . Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games , held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded
20294-475: Was Dino Zoff . Zoff played goalie for Italy, and at 40 years old he became the oldest player to win the World Cup. Also, Dino holds the record for the longest time without giving up a goal at an international tournament with 1,142 minutes. His club play includes six Serie A titles. After retiring from playing football, Dino later became a coach. Another great Italian football player was Giuseppe Meazza. Meazza scored 33 goals in his 53 World Cup appearances. Meazza has
20440-620: Was actually 11 days) was held in 1924 in Chamonix , France, in connection with the Paris Games held three months later; this event became the first Winter Olympic Games . Although, it was intended that the same country host both the Winter and Summer Games in a given year, this idea was quickly abandoned. The IOC mandated that the Winter Games be celebrated every four years in the same year as their summer counterpart. This tradition
20586-514: Was also played in 1910, in Turin between Racing Club Paris and Servette of Geneva . The Top10 , known as the Peroni Top10 for sponsorship reasons, and formerly Top 12, is Italy's top level professional men's rugby union competition. The Top 10 is run by Italian Rugby Federation and is contested by 10 teams, following the Italian federation's decision to name Peroni as the official partner of
20732-497: Was created to feature snow and ice sports that were logistically impossible to hold during the Summer Games. Figure skating (in 1908 and 1920) and ice hockey (in 1920) were featured as Olympic events at the Summer Olympics. The IOC desired to expand this list of sports to encompass other winter activities. At the 1921 Olympic Congress in Lausanne , it was decided to hold a winter version of the Olympic Games. A winter sports week (it
20878-503: Was known as the Olympic peace or truce. This idea is a modern myth because the Greeks never suspended their wars. The truce did allow those religious pilgrims who were traveling to Olympia to pass through warring territories unmolested because they were protected by Zeus. See also Finley and Pleket. The origin of the Olympics is shrouded in mystery and legend; one of the most popular myths identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as
21024-400: Was the first Olympic champion, which indicates that the competition was not limited to the aristocracy. The Olympics were of fundamental religious importance, and the sporting events, which were held alongside ritual sacrifices honouring both Zeus (whose famous statue by Phidias stood in his temple at Olympia ) and Pelops (divine hero and mythical king of Olympia), did not start until
21170-483: Was upheld through the 1992 Games in Albertville , France; after that, beginning with the 1994 Games , the Winter Olympics were held every four years, two years after each Summer Olympics. In 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttmann , determined to promote the rehabilitation of soldiers after World War II , organised a multi-sport event between several hospitals to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics . Originally known as
21316-773: Was used by Greeks as one of their units of time measurement. The Games were part of a cycle known as the Panhellenic Games , which included the Pythian Games , the Nemean Games , and the Isthmian Games . The Olympic Games reached the height of their success in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, but then gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power and influence in Greece. While there
#645354