GENOA, November 10, 2021 – “This is the story of sport from the province to international events thanks to our presence all over the country and the efforts of correspondents, informants, photographers and cameramen who enrich the work of big names, voices and faces.” These are the opening words of USSI President Gianfranco Coppola on November 9, the day USSI celebrated its 75th anniversary in Genoa, aboard the MSC Seaview cruise ship.
“We are proud to have been able to celebrate such an important birthday in Liguria,” underlines Michele Corti, president of the Ligurian Sports Journalists Group, “just as it was in 2006 when USSI celebrated 60 years and in 1946 when the history of USSI began, here in Genoa, aboard the Philippa motor ship.”
VETERAN JOURNALISTS The event titled “Tale of Sport” featured the interventions of top veteran Italian journalists like; Roberto Beccantini (Tuttosport, Gazzetta dello Sport, La Stampa, Guerin Sportivo and the Italian juror of the “Golden Ball” for many years), Gianni Merlo (Gazzetta dello Sport and president of the International Sports Press Association – AIPS), Filippo Grassia (historical face and voice of sports journalism, past president USSI from 1991 to 2002), Lucia Blini (deputy director of News Mediaset and historical face of Studio Sport), Piero Sessarego (formerly TuttoSport correspondent, sports editor-in-chief and first signature of Il Secolo XIX), Vito Romaniello (editor-in-chief Lapresse, former commentator of Stream and Mediaset Premium, survived after a long battle against covid) and Guido Zucchi (historical photographer of Guerin Sportivo).
SPECIAL GUESTS Some of the Italian sports personalities who have written extraordinary pages in these 75 years of USSI’s existence were guests of honour. From football world champion coach Marcello Lippi to new volleyball European champion coach Fefé De Giorgi. Others include: Charlie Caglieris (gold medallist at the 1983 European basketball championships), Mauro Nespoli (three times medallist in archery at the Beijing, London and Tokyo Olympics), Eraldo Pizzo (the strongest Italian water polo player of all time, Olympic gold medal winner at Rome 1960), the brothers Fulvio and Sabina Valbusa (winners of three Olympic medals in cross-country skiing), Gabriele Gori (one of the best players in the world in beach soccer) and Andrea Liverani (bronze in the 10-meter rifle at the Tokyo Paralympics).
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