by Nancy Indelicato

Gooooaaaallll!! was one of the many enthusiastic sounds at the CONI-USA youth games at La Scuola D'Italia Guglielmo Marconi in New York City on June 2, 2014.

Coni, the Italian National Olympic Committee in the United States organized and celebrated in partnership with La Scuola d'Italia the first annual Giornata Italiana dello Sport-Italy Sport Day, on the occasion of the Festa della Repubblica of June 2nd with 55 high-spirited boys and girls competing in races, basket hoops, calcetto a 5, soccer goal kicks, ring toss, weight toss, golf, bowling and hula hoop contests.

The Giornata Italiana dello Sport-Italy Sport Day exemplified the mission of CONI to establish and maintain relations with the community of Italian descent and with its local, national and international institutions and to promote an active lifestyle through sports, which also promotes health and wellness, social development and mutual respect.

CONI's Representative in the US Cav. Uff. Mico Delianova Licastro organized and led the event. Ettore Spatola from La Scuola helped to coordinate the participation of the students. Sports Announcer was Pietro Porcella. Nancy Indelicato, member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York, Joseph Di Pietro, President of the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens and Claudio Delli Carpini, Coni USA trustee in Westchester County were judges/referees of the Games.

Prof. Anna Fiore, Preside of La Scuola, and Prof. Carlo Davoli, Director of the Education Office at the Consulate General of Italy in New York, congratulated all the winners and reaffirmed the importance of the Festa della Repubblica and the children's participation in the day's events.

In addition artist Paolo Spano, whose sports themed paintings were on display for the occasion, spoke about sports being an inspiration for his original paintings.

CONI-USA alumni Dante Hin-Gasco, 9th grader at La Scuola, documented the event with video, which will be posted on the CONI-USA website and You Tube. Alex Magnani, 10th grader at La Scuola, was the official photographer. Volunteer Elaine Hin Gasco presented healthy snacks for the participants as part of CONI's emphasis on good nutrition.

The Winners:

Girls (ages 6-8 years): (1st) Isabella Sorkin (2nd) Sofia Vitale (3rd) Giulia Chiodi

Boys (ages 6-8 years): (1st) Duncan Contrera (2nd) Giocomo Maroni (3rd) Giocomo Giordano

Girls (ages 9-10 years): (1st) Margerita Marras (2nd) Martina Sibbu (3rd) Helen Rossi

Boys (ages 9-10 years): (1st Giovanni Tartara (2nd) Daniele Costanzo (3rd) Steven Berchin

Girls (ages 11-13 years): (1ST) Flavia Paoletti (2nd) Stella Fusaro (3rd Lavinia Barbato

Boys (ages 11-13 years): (1st) Lorenzo Bertuccioli (2nd) Gabriele Siddu (3rd) Eduardo Marras

Special Recognition: Emma Ferri, age 12 years (Golf: Hole-in-One!)

Giacomo Maroni, age 10 years (Hula Hoop: 55 rotations!)

Prizes were contributed by Consul General of Italy in New York Natalia Quintavalle and Lucia Pasqualini, Vice Consul, and from CONI-USA. All children attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation and the winners, a Diploma of Good Sportsmanship.

CONI-USA also holds national tryouts to select youth, boys and girls, age 11 through 13 (Middle School), to bring to Italy to participate in the annual Giochi Della Gioventu' (Youth Games), which will be held in the town of Macerata at the end of June. This year's finalists from New York City, selected during the Giornata Italiana dello Sport, are Emma Ferri, Lavinia Barbato, Bruno Gaggi and Lorenzo Bertuccioli.

Founded in 1914, and celebrating this year its 100th Anniversary, CONI is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is responsible for the development and management of all organized sports activity in Italy. Within Italy, CONI recognizes 45 national sports federations, 16 associate sports disciplines, 12 promotional sports organizations, 1 territorial sports organization, and 19 organizations for the betterment of sports. In total 95,000 sports clubs with 11,000,000 members are recognized. In addition to the United States, CONI is also represented in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Switzerland and Venezuela.

CONI-USA's inaugural Giornata Italiana dello Sport-Italy Sport Day, on the occasion of the Festa della Repubblica, is the beginning of a meaningful annual children's event.