Fedriga confirms the European role of the region
“An important international event that will involve thousands of young people and that will also confirm and consolidate the key role that Friuli Venezia Giulia has for this area of Central Europe “. This was said by Governor Massimiliano Fedriga in Trieste at the unveiling of the website and logo of Eyof 2023, the European Youth Olympics Festival, whose winter edition will take place in just under two years (21-28 January) in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with competitions also in Slovenia and Austria. Many young people (aged 14 to 18) will have the opportunity to get to know our region and see for themselves its natural beauty, the efficiency of its facilities and the hospitality of its people. In addition, there will be the opportunity to admire some future talents, as quite a few athletes from Eyof 2023 will participate in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026. In this context, Fedriga announced the establishment of a protocol with the Milan-Cortina Foundation for a cooperation in the sign of continuity between two events that will see the Italian Alps as protagonists.
During the presentation of the logo of the event, designed by Andrea Villani, the Governor emphasized the symbol of the edelweiss as a reference to the rootedness with the territory, in the sign of the values of the mountain tradition.
Finally, the president of the region announced that he had already had a meeting with the government’s sports advisor to make the executive aware of the need for adequate support for the region’s commitment to the organization of Eyof 2023.
“On behalf of the European Olympic Committees and as an Italian, I am very happy and proud that the European Youth Olympics Festival – EYOF, which represents the most important youth sports event on our continent, is returning to Italy after the inaugural edition in Aosta in 1993, the only winter EYOF edition organized in our country,” commented in a statement the Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees Raffaele Pagnozzi. “We are convinced that it will be a sensational event, not only because it will give the city of Trieste and the region the opportunity to invest in infrastructure and promote all the wonders and resources that your territory has to offer, but also because it will be an important steppingstone for the young champions of tomorrow who will aspire to Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Congratulations on the beautiful logo that recalls one of the most significant elements of your territory – the edelweiss: and with its bright colors and the Olympic flame in the middle, it perfectly symbolizes the passion and dedication of the young athletes”.
Giorgio Brandolin, president of CONI FVG and executive vice-president of Eyof 2023, recalled that Pagnozzi himself had asked the regional sports world to participate with joint initiatives in the summer edition of the festival, which will also be held in Maribor (Slovenia) in 2023. “We will offer all our passion and experience to continue our tradition as a cross-border territory, open to Europe, open to the world, through sport, which is also a culture of life”.
Maurizio Dunnhofer, as Executive President of Eyof 2023, wanted to thank the region for its fundamental support to the event, recalling that the entire region will be the protagonist of this sporting event. “Not only our beautiful mountains will be involved, but also the lowlands and the coast. In this regard, the opening ceremony will take place in Trieste and the closing ceremony in Udine.
The sports program of the EYOF 2023 will include 13 winter sports (alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, short track, ski jumping, snowboarding, Nordic combined and, for the first time, the disciplines of ski mountaineering, freestyle and ski cross will debut at the EYOF 2023) and will involve young people from 50 countries.
Stefano Ceiner