Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Italian stars and dignitaries gather to remember former IAAF President Primo Nebiolo
Ceremony in Rome marking the tenth anniversary of the death of former IAAF President Primo Nebiolo (Marco Sicari)
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Rome, Italy - Ten years after he passed away, the late IAAF President Primo Nebiolo was commemorated in a special ceremony held in the “Sala d’Onore” in the offices of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in Rome on Tuesday (3).
Dozens of Italian athletics legends and dignitaries joined his wife Giovanna to remember the former President of the Italian Athletics Federation (1969-1989) and of the IAAF (1981-1999).
Sitting in the front row was legendary high jumper Dick Fosbury while unforgettable images of those fantastic athletics years were shown on a giant screen: from the current President of the Italian Federation Franco Arese’s exploits to the historical jumps of former World record holder Sara Simeoni to the flashes of light of Pietro Mennea over 200m no fewer than 30 years after his unforgettable 19.72 dash which stood as the World record for almost two decades; the phenomenal finishes of Alberto Cova, the throws of Alessandro Andrei and the Olympic gold medal of Gabriella Dorio; the numerous medals of Maurizio Damilano and the victories of Stefano Mei and Francesco Panetta before concluding with images of Gelindo Bordin’s win in Seoul’s Olympic Marathon.
CONI President Gianni Petrucci said: “In the history of world sport, Nebiolo has been an incredible figure. He belongs to that era of leaders. He has continuously endeavoured for the growth and development of athletics in Italy and world wide. And he succeeded. When one thinks big, one always thinks of Primo. Thank you for all that he’s done for Italian sport.”
“He was a constant motivation, always positive,” said IOC Member Franco Carraro.” He marked an era. Nothing was given to him, he fought for everything he achieved with an incredible dedication. World and Italian sport certainly misses him.”
“I will refer to him as Primo as he was my President,” said Arese. “In Torino I would see him often. He was a man who loved athletics and could get emotions from athletics. He was and will always be someone who matters. What he left behind is unforgettable. Who had the chance to meet him knows that when he had something in mind there was nothing stopping him. He made some mistakes, paid the price but managed to bounce back.”
Athletes also shared their praise.
"Nebiolo had been like a father to me,” said Simeoni, who took Olympic gold in the High Jump in 1980. “I remember his endless desire to put Italian athletics on the map at the same level as Italian football. Visiting him at the Federation offices was like going home. We belonged to his world, He knew how to be tough but he was also funny. I will never forget him, he gave me the opportunity to make my dream come true.”
"He was an immense figure,” said Gabriella Dorio, the 1984 Olympic 1500m champion. “He knew everything about everything. Everywhere we went with him we were welcomed with incredible respect. In those years, we had a great enthusiasm, we were dreamers but also achievers.”
"Nebiolo has been one of the most important figures of our sport world wide,” said Mennea, who also captured the 1980 Olympic 200m title. “He made athletics into a show. He was a great leader, always supported the athletes.”
“Nebiolo had an incredible charisma,” said Cova, who won Olympic, World and European 10,000m titles during his career. “The day before the 1985 European Cup when Italy could have gone down a category he convinced me to double also in the 5000. The day after newspapers called me the “saviour”. Athletics misses his Nebiolo.”
FIDAL and Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
Dozens of Italian athletics legends and dignitaries joined his wife Giovanna to remember the former President of the Italian Athletics Federation (1969-1989) and of the IAAF (1981-1999).
Sitting in the front row was legendary high jumper Dick Fosbury while unforgettable images of those fantastic athletics years were shown on a giant screen: from the current President of the Italian Federation Franco Arese’s exploits to the historical jumps of former World record holder Sara Simeoni to the flashes of light of Pietro Mennea over 200m no fewer than 30 years after his unforgettable 19.72 dash which stood as the World record for almost two decades; the phenomenal finishes of Alberto Cova, the throws of Alessandro Andrei and the Olympic gold medal of Gabriella Dorio; the numerous medals of Maurizio Damilano and the victories of Stefano Mei and Francesco Panetta before concluding with images of Gelindo Bordin’s win in Seoul’s Olympic Marathon.
CONI President Gianni Petrucci said: “In the history of world sport, Nebiolo has been an incredible figure. He belongs to that era of leaders. He has continuously endeavoured for the growth and development of athletics in Italy and world wide. And he succeeded. When one thinks big, one always thinks of Primo. Thank you for all that he’s done for Italian sport.”
“He was a constant motivation, always positive,” said IOC Member Franco Carraro.” He marked an era. Nothing was given to him, he fought for everything he achieved with an incredible dedication. World and Italian sport certainly misses him.”
“I will refer to him as Primo as he was my President,” said Arese. “In Torino I would see him often. He was a man who loved athletics and could get emotions from athletics. He was and will always be someone who matters. What he left behind is unforgettable. Who had the chance to meet him knows that when he had something in mind there was nothing stopping him. He made some mistakes, paid the price but managed to bounce back.”
Athletes also shared their praise.
"Nebiolo had been like a father to me,” said Simeoni, who took Olympic gold in the High Jump in 1980. “I remember his endless desire to put Italian athletics on the map at the same level as Italian football. Visiting him at the Federation offices was like going home. We belonged to his world, He knew how to be tough but he was also funny. I will never forget him, he gave me the opportunity to make my dream come true.”
"He was an immense figure,” said Gabriella Dorio, the 1984 Olympic 1500m champion. “He knew everything about everything. Everywhere we went with him we were welcomed with incredible respect. In those years, we had a great enthusiasm, we were dreamers but also achievers.”
"Nebiolo has been one of the most important figures of our sport world wide,” said Mennea, who also captured the 1980 Olympic 200m title. “He made athletics into a show. He was a great leader, always supported the athletes.”
“Nebiolo had an incredible charisma,” said Cova, who won Olympic, World and European 10,000m titles during his career. “The day before the 1985 European Cup when Italy could have gone down a category he convinced me to double also in the 5000. The day after newspapers called me the “saviour”. Athletics misses his Nebiolo.”
FIDAL and Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF