Florence 5 July 2017 – They have achieved exceptional results, without any cheating, consciously shaking hands in the face of defeat: in this way, honouring the rules of Fair Play. The winners of the XXI Menarini International Fair Play Award met for the first time this evening, during the welcome dinner organised by the Menarini Pharmaceutical Group, Title Sponsor of the event.

The company wanted to pay tribute to the athletes by welcoming them to Florence, in one of the most inspiring settings in the world: Piazzale Michelangelo.

Champions from previous event also attended the event, including Giancarlo Antognoni, Niccolò Campriani, Umberto Panerai, Predrag Danilovic, Carlton Myers and Roberto Brunamonti. During the dinner, they all received the pin symbolising the Menarini Fair Play Award, making them global ambassadors for Fair Play.

"It's a very special evening, when we celebrate the values of Sport and Fair Play – said Ennio Troiano, Corporate Manager for the Menarini's Group Human Resources – Like the prize winning athletes, our researchers are mostly young and passionate, relying only on their talent, their commitment and that of their company. There are no shortcuts, because underlying our work, are patients requiring effective treatments".

The XXI edition of the Menarini Fair Play Award continues tomorrow, Thursday 6 July, in Valdichiana with the closing day of the event, culminating with the award ceremony at Castiglion Fiorentino. The event will be recorded and broadcast live by Sport Italia and will be available on digital terrestrial channels 60 and 153, as well as on Sky channel 225.

The award winners of the XXI Menarini International Fair Play Award are:

Fabio Pisacane, Fair Play

Knut Knudsen, Career in Fair Play

Zvonimir Boban, Sport and Life

Franz Klammer and Niccolò Campriani, Legendary Figures

Yelena Isinbaeva, Fair Play and Solidarity

Ivan Zaytsev, Special SUSTENIUM Energy and Heart Prize

Jarno Trulli, Sport Beyond Sport

Federico Pellegrino, Model for the Youth

David Rudisha, Fair Play for Peace

Matteo Marani, Narrating Emotions

Nicole Orlando, the Social Values of Sport

Fabrizio Donato, A Life for Sport

Sara Anzanello, Fair Play Life Model

Sofia Goggia, Promotion of Sport

National Firefighters Corp ("Corpo Nazionale Vigili del Fuoco"), Special “Fair Play and Courage” Award

Matteo Tanganelli and Giacomo Perini, Special "Guardia di Finanza" “Study and Sport” Award

Watch the gallery of the Event >>