Incumbent Coni Selects Buonfiglio, Favored Candidate Mirroring Malagò's Policies Victorious
Meet the New Boss of Italian Sports: Luciano Buonfiglio, at 74, takes the reigns as the 12th president of CONI, succeeding Giovanni Malagò after a powerful campaign that won him 47 votes against Luca Pancalli's 34. Buonfiglio, born in Naples but a Milan native, has had an impressive athletic background and a successful career in business.
A Sports Legend with a Business Mind: A former competitive sprinter canoeist, Buonfiglio represented Italy at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and won several Italian championships. His sporting career spanned 12 years from 1968 to 1980. Moreover, he has held executive roles in leading companies for three decades, including stints at Cassa di Risparmio delle Province Lombarde, Alliance Europa insurance group, ANIA's Technical Section, and Banca Popolare di Bari.
Closest to Malagò, but Forging His Own Path: Buonfiglio has long been considered the closest ally to Malagò. He led the canoe and kayak federation since 2005, was a member of CONI's National Council, and served as the Olympic Committee's vice-president under Malagò's first term from 2013 to 2018. However, his presidential campaign had been in the works for over a year and received support from Malagò only after the latter's inability to secure another term.
A Promised of Investments and Balanced Accounts: In his electoral program, Buonfiglio pledged to invest in sports infrastructure and maintain the internal and international prestige of CONI by ensuring balanced accounts. His election was facilitated by key endorsements and a campaign dinner attended by influential figures that garnered more attendees than his main competitor.
A Collegial Approach: In his first words as the new head of Italian sport, Buonfiglio expressed gratitude to Malagò and acknowledged the "correctness" of his competitor, Luca Pancalli. He also emphasized the value of collaboration within CONI and the role of International Olympic Committee members in Italy’s sports system.
The New CONI Board
In the electoral shakeup, the successful candidates for various positions include Valentina Rodini and Giampaolo Ricci as Athlete Representatives, Elisabetta Spina as Technical Representative, Marco Riva as Regional Committees Representative, Domenico Ignozza as Provincial Delegates Representative, Juri Morico as Promotion Sports Entities Representative, and Laura Lunetta, Diana Bianchedi, Marco Di Paola, Francesco Ettorre, Francesco Montini, Tania Cagnotto, and Giovanni Copioli as National Sports Federations and Associated Sports Disciplines Representatives.
The New President's Multi-faceted Approach: Luciano Buonfiglio, with his experience in both sports and business, plans to invest in sports infrastructure and ensure balanced accounts, demonstrating a combination of the average business strategy and general-news worthy goals for CONI.
Unite and Excel in Politics and Sports: Buonfiglio, having forged his own path while maintaining a close connection to former President Giovanni Malagò, will emphasize the value of collaboration within CONI, demonstrating that politics and sports can thrive together under his leadership.
