The International Seminar at the Verona Chamber of Commerce, exhibitions and award ceremonies at the three-day GenerAZIONE2026

Source: press office Presidency of the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso - Belluno|Dolomites

The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Verona Giuseppe Riello spoke at the International Seminar ‘Youth and Games communication, imagine, technology and AI’ in the presence of FICTS Delegates who brought their contribution on the various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and e-gaming. Prof. Franco Ascani, FICTS President and the only Italian member of the IOC Culture Commission, opened the proceedings.

After a short Coffee Break, it was the turn of the Inauguration of the Exhibitions ‘Olympic Show|’Expressing the Olympic Value – Winter Olympic Games | ‘Women at the Games’.

And it was emotion, applause, enthusiasm and heart-warming words at the moment of the prize-giving ceremony in the Verona Chamber of Commerce.

A great awards ceremony, with the execution of the choreography on the notes of the Milan Cortina 2026 anthem ‘Till Dawn’.
Chamber Board Member Carlo de Paoli opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone.

SPORTS CHAMPIONS WHO RECEIVED THE ‘GUIRLANDE d’HONNEUR’ AND AWARDS IN VERONA:

– Liston Bochette III: Athlete and Bobbist, Puerto Rican Champion. Born in Florida, he devoted himself to athletics during high school and was later named captain of the University of Florida track and field team with All-American status (a sporting honour awarded to US amateur athletes distinguished in their role). In the 1980s he was part of the Puerto Rican track and field team with which he was champion of the Central American and Caribbean Games where he won the gold medal. With Puerto Rico’s national bobsleigh team, he participated in three editions of the Winter Olympics and in the decathlon, setting a national record in ’88. Secretary General of the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission. He is also a painter involved in the foundation of several Puerto Rican sports federations.

– Arianna Fontana: Short track skater. With 11 medals won – including two gold medals in the 500m at Pyeongchang 2018 (bronze in the 1000m) and Beijing 2022 (silver in the 1500m and in the 2000m mixed relay) – she is among the most medal-winning Italian athletes ever at the Winter Olympic Games.
In her palmares: bronze in the 3000m relay in Turin 2006 and in the 500m in Vancouver 2010; in Sochi 2014 she is silver in the 500m and bronze in the 1500m and 3000m relay; 7 times European Champion, 4 podiums at the World Championships (silver in Moscow 2015, bronze in Sheffield 2011, Shanghai 2012 and Dordrecht 2021) and 2 World Cups in the 500m distance (in connection from the USA).

– Giusy Versace: Paralympic athlete, TV presenter and politician. In 2010, she began running with carbon prostheses and became the first Italian athlete in history to run with bilateral amputation. In seven years, she collected 11 Italian titles and set several national records on 60, 100, 200 and 400 metres. She joined the Fiamme Azzurre sports group and in 2016 won her first international medals: European Championships (silver in the 200m and bronze in the 400m). In the same year, she reached her greatest goal and took part in the Paralympics in Rio, entering the final in the 200m race (in attendance if authorised by the doctors or video message).

– Novella Calligaris: She was the first Italian athlete to win an Olympic medal in swimming (Munich ’72) and to set a world record (World Championships in Belgrade ’73 in the 800 m freestyle). Despite her short career (only six years of competitive activity), her palmares boasts 71 Italian titles and 21 European records. Considered one of the strongest Italian swimmers of all time, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1986. After her farewell to swimming, she dedicated herself to a career as a sports journalist and held positions in CONI and other CONI sporting organisations (video message for conjunction with the European Athletics Championships in Rome).

– Irene Curtoni: Giant slalom skier with World Cup debut in 2007. Bronze medal in giant slalom in Ofterschwang 2012. Represented Italy in five World Championships and at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. ‘Bronze’ at the World Championships in 2019, he has two World Cup podiums to his credit. She also competed in basketball, gymnastics and swimming before turning to skiing. Since 2021, she has been working as a technical commentator for Alpine skiing competitions on Swiss-Italian television.

– Enrico Fabris: Skater and current skating coach. Winner of three at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics: gold in the 1500m and team pursuit, bronze in the 5000m. He was the first Italian athlete to win an Olympic medal in the speed skating discipline. In his palmares: five times Italian Overall Champion (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), bronze in the 1500m World Cup in 2005, silver at the All Around World Championships in Heerenveen and at the European Championships in Collalbo, silver in the 5000m at the World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City. In 2007 he set the new Italian record with 06:06.42. She is a member of the Italian sports ‘Walk of Fame’.

– Martina Favaretto: fencer, foil specialist and No. 2 in the ranking. Fresh winner of the foil Grand Prix in Shanghai in May, a confirmation for the Venetian athlete of the Fiamme Oro who is on the eighth podium in her career between Cup and GP, her fifth success of the season after the victory in Cairo, the silver medal in Turin and the third places in Paris and Tbilisi. An extraordinary season, in the sign of an impressive continuity in view of the Olympic appointment in Paris. In 2022, together with Arianna Errigo, Francesca Palumbo and Alice Volpi, she won the gold medal in team foil at the European Championships in Adalia and at the World Championships in Cairo. In 2023, he received the Collare d’oro al merito sportivo – CONI’s highest honour.