FLORENCE, 2 July 2026 – The night of sporting legends arrives in Florence with the 2026 Fair Play Menarini International Award. Following yesterday's opening celebration at Piazzale Michelangelo, attended by great champions and the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, the 30th edition of the Award now turns to its grand finale at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. In just a few hours, internationally acclaimed sporting stars will become the newest Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors around the world.

Federico Buffa (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), Luca Lotti (Advisor to the Fair Play Menarini Foundation), Filippo Paganelli (Member of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation), Luca Lastrucci (Chairman of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation), Sasha Vujačić (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), Achille Polonara (2026 Fair Play Menarini International Award winner), Vincenzo Parrinello (President of the Jury of the Fair Play Menarini International Award), Ian Thorpe (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), Giacomo Perini (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), Omar Schillaci (award ceremony host), Michele Cagiano (award ceremony host), Giorgio Porrà (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador).

Andrea Giovannini (2026 Fair Play Menarini International Award winner), Michele Malfatti (Fair Play Menarini International Award winner), Luciano Buonfiglio (President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI)), Valeria Speroni Cardi (Member of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation), Antonella Palmisano (2026 Fair Play Menarini International Award winner), Lucia Blini (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), Rachele Sangiuliano (award ceremony host), Antonio Rossi (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador), and Giancarlo Antognoni (Fair Play Menarini Ambassador).

"The Fair Play Menarini Award celebrates the truest spirit of sport – where talent goes hand in hand with respect, integrity, fairness, and teamwork," said Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence. "The champions being honoured this evening represent not only excellence in their respective disciplines, but also demonstrate that it is possible to compete at the highest level without ever losing sight of the values that make sport such an extraordinary force for personal growth and education. We are proud to host this 30th edition entirely in Florence and to become, for a few days, the ‘home’ of fair play. It is an important recognition for our city, which embraces the principles of respect, inclusion, responsibility, and care for others. These are values that belong to sport, but they should also guide the way we build our communities and face today's challenges together. At a time when division and confrontation too often prevail, fair play reminds us that we can compete with integrity, win with humility, and face defeat with dignity. It is a message that speaks especially to younger generations, and one that we have a duty to uphold every day. I would therefore like to thank the Fair Play Menarini Foundation for the remarkable work it has carried out over the past thirty years, and all the athletes who, through their example, show that the greatest success is not simply achieving victory, but leaving behind a legacy of values capable of inspiring others and making society stronger and more united."

The magnificent Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will host the highlight of this year's Award, celebrating athletes who have left an indelible mark on the history of sport through both their competitive achievements and their exemplary conduct. Beginning at 9:00 p.m., the Fair Play Menarini red carpet will welcome athletics stars such as Armand Duplantis and Antonella Palmisano, alongside Paralympic champions Bebe Vio and Chiara Mazzel. Football will be represented by timeless icons Diego Milito, Gianfranco Zola, and Emilio Butragueño, while team sports will be celebrated through basketball standout Achille Polonara and volleyball star Simone Anzani. Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti, Italy's golden speed skating trio, will receive the Award together, joined by two more outstanding champions: swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri and fencer Daniele Garozzo. Completing this year's list of recipients is Fabio Caressa, one of Italy's most respected sports journalists.

Alongside this year's winners, the evening will also welcome back awardees from previous editions who, over the past three decades, have carried the Fair Play Menarini message around the world as ambassadors of ethics, integrity, and respect, both in competition and in everyday life. Among them are Antonio Rossi, Ian Thorpe, Giancarlo Antognoni, Sasha Vujačić, Andrea Zorzi, and Giacomo Perini.

The ceremony will be broadcast live from 9:00 p.m. on Sky channels 501 and 257, bringing the Fair Play Menarini International Award into the homes of sports fans and viewers wishing to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The evening will be hosted by Rachele Sangiuliano, Michele Cagiano, Omar Schillaci, and Federico Buffa.

"Tonight we celebrate an important milestone: thirty years of an Award that has showcased sport through its most authentic values - said Luca Lastrucci, Valeria Speroni Cardi, and Filippo Paganelli, members of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation. - Welcoming new Fair Play Menarini Ambassadors means seeing a community of champions continue to grow—individuals who, through their example, demonstrate that talent, respect, and responsibility can always go hand in hand, both on and off the competition field."

The 30th Fair Play Menarini International Award is supported by the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale as Institutional Partner, alongside Sustenium, Frecciarossa, Adiacent, and Estra as Initiative Partners.

To follow this year's honourees and stay up to date with the latest news, visit the official website www.fairplaymenarini.com and follow the Award's official social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

2026 Fair Play Menarini International Award winners:

• Achille Polonara – Basketball
• Antonella Palmisano – Race Walking
• Armand Duplantis – Pole Vault
• Bebe Vio – Paralympic Athletics
• Chiara Mazzel – Paralympic Skiing
• Daniele Garozzo – Fencing
• Davide Ghiotto – Michele Malfatti – Andrea Giovannini – Speed Skating
• Diego Milito – Football
• Emilio Butragueño – Football
• Fabio Caressa – Sports Journalism
• Gianfranco Zola – Football
• Gregorio Paltrinieri – Swimming
• Simone Anzani – Volleyball