Istanbul – Montella and Santarelli at the Italian Sports Day

Respect, passion, fair competition and team spirit. These are the values promoted during the first 'Italian Sports Day in the World' also celebrated in Istanbul. The protagonists of the event were Vincenzo Montella and Daniele Santarelli, coaches of the Turkish national football and women's volleyball teams, and two successful icons of Italian sport in Turkey. The initiative was hosted at Palazzo di Venezia by the Ambassador of Italy in Turkey Giorgio Marrapodi, and was part of the 'Meetürkitaly' project, a promotional initiative launched by the diplomatic delegation to share experiences and identify successful and innovative models between Italy and Turkey. The event's moderator was Turkish journalist Deniz Aksoy, former student of the Italian High School in Istanbul, graduated from Cattolica University in Milan and trained at the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

In their opening speeches, the President of the Turkish Football Federation Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu and the President of the Volleyball Federation Akif Ustundag gave a welcome address, emphasising the universal value of sport, which brings together and stimulates the public, especially young people, and is also an instrument for strengthening bilateral relations, as demonstrated by the joint organisation by Italy and Turkey of the European Football Championship in 2032.

"The partnership between sport and diplomacy is fundamental in today's world. The first Italian Sports Day in the World, promoted by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, is an opportunity to reaffirm values that unite cultures and societies. Italy is a leading player in this area: proof of this is the organisation of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina," explained Ambassador Marrapodi. Montella and Santarelli - beloved in all of Turkey for having led their respective teams to success, in the name of team spirit and solidarity, as demonstrated also following the earthquake that struck the south-east of the country in 2023 - enhanced the numerous ties and connections between the Italian and Turkish societies, addressing crucial issues associated with the world of sport that both countries are equally sensitive about.