Rome, Italy, September 9, 2018 – The programme designed for the opening day of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2018 in Rome included much more than ‘just’ the matchup featuring Italy and Japan. A couple of hours before Ivan Zaytsev and the other Azzurri took to the court where they celebrated a 3-0 victory over Japan, a very good share of Italy’s golden generation came together at Foro Italico as well.
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The President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, and the President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Pietro Bruno Cattaneo, hosted members of the Italian national team that made history back in the 90s by sweeping three World Championship titles in a row (1990, 1994 and 1998). The event took place at Foro Italico in close cooperation with DHL Express Italy.
Lorenzo Bernardi, Marco Bracci, Luca Cantagalli, Ferdinando De Giorgi, Alessandro Fei, Andrea Gardini, Giacomo Giretto, Pasquale Gravina, Andrea Lucchetta, Marco Martinelli, Marco Meoni, Samuele Papi, Michele Pasinato, Damiano Pippi, Simone Rosalba, Andrea Sartoretti, Paolo Tofoli and Andrea Zorzi attended a special reception in Rome. Shortly afterwards, they moved to the scenic tennis stadium of the Foro Italico to follow the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2018 opening game, with the audience spontaneously paying tribute to these legendary players with a standing ovation.
Italy claimed World Championship gold in 1990, 1994 and 1998 – a feat that only Brazil could equal with their three straight titles from the 2002, 2006 and 2010 editions.
Earlier in the evening, the players of the Italian women’s Sitting Volleyball national team enjoyed the opportunity to stand on the very same stage and to receive the right tribute to their efforts following the historic fourth place they claimed at the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships held earlier this summer in the Netherlands. In what was their maiden appearance in the competition, the Italians finished the competition in fourth place behind much more established powerhouses such as Russia, USA and China.