National Association of Azzurri Athletes of Italy
Association recognized by C.O.N.I.

CONCISE NOTES ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATION

The National Association of Azzurri Athletes of Italy (ANAAI) was founded, only with constitution, in 1948 by a group of 18 athletes, who took part, almost all, in the Olympic Games of London in that year. Since the beginning, the Association had the following basic charateristics: it is indipendent of politics and parties and it is open to the athletes, women and men, who have worn, once at least, the Italian Jersey (Azzurra) of national sporting teams, recognized by C.O.N.I.

Given the initial success, after about 9 years, on 11th April 1957 exactly, the Association was created also with notarial deed by Mr. Alberto Misurale, notary in Rome, Via in Lucina n° 17 (Repertory n° 109323 - Register n° 6959). In 1948 Association's Members were only 18, today, after 59 years, we have 8952 "Azzurri" national Athletes, between old and new, who come from all sporting disciplines.

Now the about 9000 Associates of whom 4000 olympians are shared in 72 sections situated in almost all our provinces, where they carry out an intense continuative activity, deep-seated in the context of the many local realities. These activities are in line with the aims of our constitution as in the following outline.

For a long time C.O.N.I. has observed A.N.A.A.I.'s value and functions. On 21st June 1977 in conformity with D.P.R. 530/1974 , by deliberation of National Council, C.O.N.I. recognized it as "Meritorious Association of sporting interest", entrusting it, as preminent task, the development of "Cultural activities realized in order to diffuse and promote the ideals and values of sport, by promotional events, printed publications and similar". This acknowledgment was confirmed after law provisions of 1999 and 2004.

By deliberation of C.O.N.I. National Committee n° 260 - 15th June 2006, our denomination was changed in " ASSOCIAZIONE NAZIONALE ATLETI OLIMPICI E AZZURRI D'ITALIA" (A.N.A.O.A.I.). The International Olympic Committee has demanded this changement to C.O.N.I. in order to adapt our Country to the others, that had already founded Associations, Federations and Unions of Athletes, who had taken part to the Olympic Games for their own Countries

Our new denomination represents now an "added value" for us, because it identifies an international acknowledgment that we didn't have before. Therefore, our Association carries out the functions, briefly related below:

• Visits of our Associates to schools to divulge and exalt sport's values under every profile. These meetings, about 50 a year, are fixed with local Educational Offices and Headmasters;
  
• Support and collaboration in demonstrations of solidarity with desabled athletes;
  
• Cooperation  with C.O.N.I.  local Offices and Federations to develop basic motor and sporting activities, which engage lots of young people every year;
  
• Organization of conventions and debates about sport culture, particularly on several topical subjects, first of all the fight against doping, our engagement since 1979 and by now become State’s law;
  
• Putting in action the competent city authorities in order to dedicate streets, squares, avenues and sport facilities to “Atleti Olimpici e Azzurri d’Italia”. Now these sites are present in 75 big or small towns, as well as 7 specific monuments (Roma, Cortina, Mantova, Piacenza, Terni, Monfalcone, Travagliato) and 12 sport facilities with our denomination, become in 2006: “Atleti Olimpici e Azzurri d’Italia”;
  
• Creation of our own “Solidarity Fund” in favour of  specially needy Members;
  
• Organization every year of  cultural tours  in several parts of the world to divulge the image of Italian sport and of the Maglia Azzurra, especially among the Italians, who live abroad.

• To promote the ideal of  the “Maglia Azzurra” (Azure vest) as a symbol of Italian cultural and sporting values;
  
• To keep alive, among the Italian Olympic Athletes, the ties of  sporting and human solidarity, by  emphasizing the ideal of the Maglia Azzurra as  athlete greatest aspiration;
  
• To be witness of traditions of  Olympism and exalt it as a life style;
  
• To spur suitably young people to practise sport, making available the specific cooperation of  Italian Olympic Athletes for all sporting Institutions;
  
• To assist  ethically and concretely our specially needy Members and to help the Italian Olympic Athletes to find a job at the end of their agonistic career;
  
• To promote international relationships with similar foreign  Associations, exalting  the sporting ideal as means of cohesion and solidarity.