Bad weather canceled the friendly match between Basket Canegrate and a selection of Pro Patria Hupac, but did not stop the celebrations of the fourth edition of Panathlon Day. The event held on the evening of Wednesday 13 June, in fact, was supposed to be held en plein air at the Knights Playground at the “Falcone e Borsellino” Park. Instead, due to the rain, it took place in the Sala Giare of Villa Jucker in Legnano. Sergio La Torre, president of the Panathlon Club La Malpensa, will do the honors. He recalled that the initiative is dedicated to celebrating the panathletic world and the ethical sporting values at its base on the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the first club in Venice.
Among the authorities present were mayor Lorenzo Radice and the sports councilor Guido Bragato, as well as the commander of the Carabinieri of Busto Arsizio Lt. Col. Andrea Poletto. Among the notable personalities were Andrea son of the late Sergio Allegrini, the councilor of the Central Charity Commission of the Cariplo Foundation Carlo Massironi and the former Fiamma Panathlon and promising MotoGP rider Leonardo Abruzzo. Dino Meneghin, guest of honor, did not attend due to health problems. The iconic Hall of Famer, 12-time title winner, 7-time winner of the European Cup, Continental Gold in Nantes ’83 and Olympic Silver in Moscow ’80, however spoke remotely. Ideally collected by Refs Aldo Albanesi, Pietro Tallone and Felice Paronelli and by the Pres of Basket Canegrate Salvatore Laguardia, the award will be delivered in the future. The Panathlon Club Monza represented by the president Federico Gerosa accompanied by the CIP delegate Ivan Borserini paid homage to Ion Canegrati, current coach of the Bustese Skating Academy and champion of will, passion and ability to redeem himself from adversity.
In compliance with the new format, for the first time in its 31 editions the Giancarlo Castiglioni Award was delivered in a non-exclusive context. One of the giants of local associations and sport is remembered thanks to the interaction of his chosen families. The registry one (with the heirs Giovanna and Gigi) and the sports/associative one with ASSB (represented by the president Cinzia Allegrini, by the deputies Maria Teresa Nasatti and Fabrizio Ranisi and by the former president Massimo Tosi), Panathlon Club La Malpensa, Panathlon Club Varese (president Felice Paronelli), Lions Club Busto Arsizio Host (incoming president Gianfranco Zilioli), Accademia Bustese Skating (president Alessandro Rogora), La Famiglia Bustocca and Ardor Calcio. The shuttle symbol of the award in the image of industriousness and spirit of service went to Giancarlo Agazzi, frontman of the Valle Olona Team and champion of volunteering.
Awards and motivations
Fair Play Panathlon Club La Malpensa 2024 Promotion Award to Giovanni Cortinovis with the quote from Tazio Nuvolari at the bottom: “Brakes? What are brakes for?”
«Cortinovis, born in Busto Arsizio, took his first steps as the Press Office of Pro Patria Calcio and is today a journalist for MotoSprint, La Gazzetta dello Sport and L’Eco di Bergamo. Passionate about motors and road races, in 2023 Cortinovis self-produced the book “North West 200 – The most beautiful race in the world” for Amazon at his own expense. The passion poured by Cortinovis into the promotion of an iconic sporting event in the United Kingdom and little known in Italy has been and is coupled with an important aim of solidarity, which unites the highest values of sport and sporting ethics with those of help to the community. In fact, the proceeds from the work are entirely intended for the purchase of a defibrillator in the Contrada di Tagliata di Costa Serina, the place where Cortinovis spends his holidays. Worthy of note is the fact that the work is currently in first place in Amazon sales for the motorcycle category and second in the broader motor category”
Fair Play Panathlon Club La Malpensa 2024 Award to Gesto to Rocco Amendolara
«The story of Amendolara begins when he coached Matteo Bonomelli, brother of Thomas, current player of Folgore Legnano, a 1st category team at the time coached by Amendolara himself. Amendolara and Matteo Bonomelli win a youth championship and a strong friendship is established between the two, which goes far beyond the coach-player relationship. Then, as often happens, the paths diverge: Amendolara becomes 2nd coach at Arconatese in Serie D while Matteo goes to play at Castano Primo. The two maintain a close relationship, the boy often confides in the coach and says he wants to come back to play with him one day and be able to win a championship together.
Then, unexpectedly, Matteo takes his own life. Amendolara then reunites Matteo’s old teammates, born in 2002, and thanks to the Bustese Academy he manages to set up a team that participates in and wins the 3rd category championship. A triumphal season thanks also to the contribution of Thomas Bonomelli who, to thank Amendolara for what he did for his brother Matteo, decided to join him in Busto Garolfo to make his contribution to the Granata cause by playing completely free of charge. At that point, the human value of Amendolara stands out and, knowing the costs faced by Thomas in order to train, he decides to donate his reimbursements to the player. Amendolara’s gesture is therefore meritorious: sport is capable of creating strong bonds, of overcoming tragedies and of teaching values, putting aside one’s own interests and one’s own profit.”
XXXI Giancarlo Castiglioni Award to Giancarlo Agazzi
«Born on 31 December 1944, always involved in volunteering and associations, former President of the Sports Council of Gorla Minore, Councilor AC Calcio Gorla Minore, Councilor Ju Sport cycling, Councilor Gorla Volley and Councilor UDACE CSAIN Varese Province Committee, volunteer for the Municipality of Gorla Minore has been the soul of the Valle Olona Day for 21 editions, a charity event which over the years has raised funds, among others, for the Amici di Rossella Association, the Bianca Garavaglia Foundation, the Busto Arsizio Red Cross, the Maria Letizia Verga and Sestero Onlus. For 7 years he has also been organizing Insieme a Noi per Loro in favor of the Valduce Foundation / Villa Beretta Costa Masnaga Hospital. In 2017 he founded the Valle Olona Team which will host the Italian Amateur Championship on June 29th and 30th»
Fiamma Panathlon / Sergio Allegrini 2024 to Dino Meneghin with the quote from Dan Peterson at the bottom: “Dr. Gabetti, if we take Dino Meneghin we will start to win…”
«For having been able to become the winning symbol of Italian basketball thanks to an inimitable personal parable of success, leadership, team spirit and love for the game».
