Coventry, a woman in reverse

COVENTRY Sport is changing. Kirsty Coventry, two Olympic gold medalists in the 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, is the new president of the IOC, the International Olympic Committee. African, born in Zimbabwe, she is the first woman in history to lead the world of sport. With equal numbers of male and female athletes at the last Games, it was clear how much women's weight in the sporting universe was growing. INNOVATOR

WOMEN As I have already pointed out on other occasions, women's climbing the "wall" of sport is Inexorable. In Paris 2024, 5,250 men and 5,250 women: parity. In Los Angeles 2028, in three years, there will be 5,167 men and 5,333 women, that is, 50.7%. Even in the post-war era, it was pure fantasy to envision such a scenario. For Los Angeles, it will be the third Summer Olympics, and for the first time it will host the Paralympics. IRRESISTIBLE

ALFONZETTI The statistics on hooligan attacks on referees are horrifying. A thousand cases in two years, with 693 days of prognosis for the victims. The latest episode, involving Diego Alfonzetti, 19, savagely beaten in Riposto, Sicily, during an under-17 match, shocked everyone. Zappi, president of the Italian Referees Association, envisions including the role of referee in the penal code: I agree. HEROIC

DORIO A great step forward, after too many setbacks, in the relationship between sport and schools. The Youth Games, a tradition from 1969 to 1996, are back. This year, Law No. 41 of March 25, 2025, was published in the Official Journal, providing for the relaunch of the Games. Gabriella Dorio, gold medalist in 1984, said: "When I won the Youth Games, I thought that, one day, I would win at the Olympics." Accurate prediction! PROPHETIC

CALABRO Antonio Calabro, as a coach, boasts four promotions, including three in a row with Gallipoli and Virtus Francavilla. After a spell in Serie B with Carpi, he brought Carrarese back to the second division: it had been absent for 76 years. A half-miracle, like those that sometimes happened to him, in the name of Padre Pio. His second daughter, in fact, was born with a malformation and needed head surgery, but a series of signs guided her towards recovery. DEVOTO

ARMINIA Another modern-day David-versus-Goliath feat. Following in the footsteps of French club Calais, national cups often yield special stories. In Italy, Alessandria and Novara reached the semifinals of the Coppa Italia. Now, in Germany, third-division club Arminia will face Stuttgart in the final. This is a club worth 19 times less than Bayer Leverkusen, eliminated in the semifinals. Sometimes, money doesn't buy happiness. UNTAMED

FLORIS Giovanni Floris, the television host, who holds a UEFA B coaching license, gave a lecture on communication at Coverciano, during the course for youth sector managers. He said: "In football, with young people, what happens is what happens elsewhere in the country, where they seek immediate results, without a medium- or long-term vision." Haste, unfortunately, is always a bad counselor. WISE

NP Maggio '25

Carlo Nesti