The 11th edition of the Città di Roma Award. OPES (Association for Social Promotion, recognized Sports Promotion Body by CONI and CIP, and Universal Civil Service Entity) has, since 2015, annually conferred this prestigious recognition to personalities and organizations in the fields of sports, institutions, associations, and culture who have distinguished themselves and brought prestige to their respective sectors. Today, April 16, the Salone d’Onore of CONI hosted OPES and its historic initiative, as always.

Ten years, eleven editions. This is the path of the Città di Roma Award 2025, which, as usual, reflects OPES’ journey edition after edition. The physical award, designed by artist Leandro Lottici, has in the past been presented to outstanding personalities from the institutional, sports, and association worlds. Some notable past recipients include Giorgia Meloni, Giovanni Malagò, Andrea Abodi, Francesco Rocca, Luca Pancalli, Francesco Totti, Maki Mandela, Marco Mezzaroma, and Roberto Mancini. The 2025 edition featured an equally impressive lineup of honorees, with the audience being predominantly female.

Receiving the award, a symbol of the dies romana, were: Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policies Maria Teresa Bellucci, Svetlana Celli, President of the Capitoline Assembly, Alessandro Cochi, President of CONI Lazio, Daniele Sinibaldi, Mayor of Rieti and President of ANCI Lazio, Antonella Baldino, CEO of the Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit, Manuela Nicolosi, international football referee and DAZN VAR talent, Arianna Sacripante, Paralympic athlete in mixed and inclusive artistic swimming, the Giovanni Paolo II Foundation for Sport (award received by President Daniele Pasquini), Salvamamme Salvabebè (award received by President Maria Grazia Passeri), and the Master in Sports Law at La Sapienza University of Rome, represented for the occasion by Prof. Domenico Mezzacapo, course director, and Prof.ssa Mirzia Bianca, Director of the Department of Legal Sciences.

Città di Roma Award: Words from Juri Morico, OPES National President

“Ten years and eleven editions of the Città di Roma Award: important numbers that give us a sense of time passing, but also of how far we have come,” said OPES National President Juri Morico. “This year,” he continued, “we also celebrate the 45th anniversary of our organization; another significant number that motivates us to work even harder, dedicating our resources to fundamental priorities such as defending the educational and social value of sport and promoting the physical and mental well-being of individuals.

We work every day to spread a culture of sport that is aware of its mission, offering our expertise to institutions and civil society to address challenges together with awareness and multiple tools. We are building a tightly knit network involving institutions, local authorities, private social entities, and stakeholders, all key players to ensure that our projects and their outcomes have widespread impact. Today, we specifically awarded Deputy Minister Bellucci for her enormous and fruitful daily commitment; we know that the entire Third Sector finds in her a direct partner who works side by side to make a difference.

We also awarded Antonella Baldino, CEO of ICSC, for her intense work in recent years and her strategic approach to finance applied to sport and now to culture, which will certainly continue in the future, as well as referees Nicolosi and Arianna Sacripante, both symbols of sport breaking barriers, physical and beyond. The eleventh edition was strongly focused on women; we wanted to recognize personal merits and skills, but also highlight that women are the backbone of our society: starting with our organization, continuing in public administration, sports, and the third sector, and extending to our homes and families.”

Present in the room and actively participating in the ceremony were: Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI; Luca Pancalli, President of CIP; Flavio Siniscalchi, Head of the Department for Sport; Emanuele Prisco, Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior; Marcello Gemmato, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health; Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education and Merit; Federica Celestini Campanari, President of the Italian Youth Agency; and Antonello Aurigemma, President of the Lazio Regional Council. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Ministry of Culture, Minister for Sport and Youth, Lazio Region, Rome Capital Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion, Italian Youth Agency, CONI, CIP, Sport e Salute SpA, and ICSC – Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit.

Words from the Awardees

Antonella Baldino – CEO, Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit
 “This recognition, which I feel must be extended to the entire Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit, is an award that speaks of commitment, vision, and passion. Values we share with the world of Sport and Culture, and which represent tangible tools for social cohesion, growth, and the future. Our commitment is to support and enhance the work of OPES and sports associations so they can continue to generate impact for society and contribute to the sustainable development of local communities and territories.”

Alessandro Cochi – President, CONI
 “Thanks to OPES for this award. I certainly feel the responsibility of this appointment (as President of CONI Lazio, ed.). We are ready for the challenge: sports facilities, schools, and so on. The more people practice sports, the more successful we will be in our mission. Four years that will not be easy, but the territorial committees are here and will give their best.”

Svetlana Celli – President, Capitoline Assembly
 “Thanks to OPES for this recognition, it gives me great pride and a strong sense of responsibility; it shows that from tomorrow we must continue to believe even more in our work. We owe it to the many citizens. We must give families opportunities; no one should feel excluded. We must also work to make sports practice free of charge.”

Master in Sports Law, La Sapienza – Domenico Mezzacapo
 “It is a great emotion to receive this award. We are happy to have seen so many friends from the Master and the sports world at the Salone d’Onore.”

Daniele Sinibaldi – Mayor of Rieti
 “I am honored to receive this award, which highlights the historic connection of the City of Rieti with sport and the efforts we are making to improve in this area of administrative action. I accept this recognition with gratitude on behalf of the Rieti community, which has always seen sport as a vehicle for individual and collective development. Regarding sports facilities, we are making great efforts to be increasingly competitive and ready for major upcoming events in Rieti, starting with the 2026 Under-18 European Athletics Championships and the 2027 World Gliding Championship. I sincerely thank OPES for awarding the City of Rieti, placing it in a prestigious list of personalities and organizations honored in previous years.”

Giovanni Paolo II Foundation for Sport – Daniele Pasquini
 “This award recognizes the work done in service of the values of sport and the Church, and it fills us with joy. The Giovanni Paolo II Foundation for Sport has for nearly 20 years promoted initiatives for education and reflection to help the sports movement have strong ethical references and to focus sports practice on education and personal development.”

Salvamamme – Maria Grazia Passeri
 “I am honored to receive this prestigious award from those who have always believed in and supported the work of Salvamamme,” said Maria Grazia Passeri. “The bond with OPES,” she added, “is even stronger today!”

Manuela Nicolosi – Referee
 “I am honored to receive this award today from my city, Rome. This recognition is deeply meaningful because it comes from where it all began: from the dreams nurtured as a child and the first steps taken on a football field. Rome is home, roots, and future. This award represents much more than a milestone. It is a strong message to continue believing in the transformative and inclusive power of sport. It recognizes my path of courage, passion, and commitment and motivates me even more to give back to others what sport has given me and continues to give, with the aim of making it truly for everyone. Thank you to those who believed in me and continue to do so. This recognition gives me even more strength to keep breaking barriers.”

Arianna Sacripante – Paralympic Athlete
 “Thank you OPES for this award. For me, sport means commitment and joy; we must tell a story, the one that Giorgio Minisini and I build together every day, and make it increasingly important.”

Maria Teresa Bellucci – Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policies
 “I am happy to have received this award,” said the Deputy Minister from the Salone d’Onore stage at CONI. “We must help those who help others. We have an enormous heritage of social solidarity, unique in Italy. Only we have it, a pride of humanity. We presented it to Europe and will continue to do so. Our commitment is also for young people; we have dedicated a day to them, but above all our attention. We want to listen to them and provide opportunities.”