Home - Saluti   Carlo Magri - Fipav President Here we are now. The organizing machine has already started up. There are few months now to the 2005 Senior Men European Championships, which the Italian Volleyball Federation will have the pleasure of organizing, together with Serbia & Montenegro. When we decided to embrace this innovation, organizing in two different countries such a great event as is the Senior Men European Championships, we were convinced in the great value of this initiative. However, this conviction has grown stronger during these months that we worked hard with our friends from Serbia and Montenegro. Considering the technical value of the European Volleyball, the European Championships is no less than a World Championships. It is true that there will not be Brazil, the Olympic Champion, but the presence of many champions and teams, who represent the best of Volleyball for a long time, will be a guarantee of success. The European Championships is an event, that in the last fifteen years always saved some good results for the Italian Volleyball, always ranked first as regards victories and medals. The next Championships will be a great opportunity to show the same enthusiasm and professionalism, that arise from the Italian Volleyball in organizing major international events.So, I am sure we will live memorable days of the volleyball sport in the great scenery of Rome, and just as much in Belgrade. Walter Veltroni - Rome's major Rome is about to give hospitality to the Volleyball Senior Men’s European Championship. Our city is getting ready in the best way possible, or even more, because Volleyball in Rome has deep roots and a large following, especially among young boys and girls. This is the reason why the Town Council of Rome, right from the candidature, committed itself side by side with the Italian Volleyball Federation and it’s now following constantly the exceptional work of the Organizing Committee to which the city has shown, and always will show, its total support. No doubt this event will be a great success for everybody --the public of the matches, volleyball fans and journalists--, because the best teams of world’s volleyball will participate to the Championship. Rome -- who has always been a testing ground of important cultural, sports and human initiatives -- confirmed once again its extraordinary vocation of “City of the World” and it is in this way that our city wishes to be present at this great event in September. On this special occasion sport will surely be acclaimed, but for us sport is not --and it certainly won’t be on this occasion-- just a game to win or lose, but it is loyalty, self-respect and respect for the others, fun, emotional participation, celebration. In one word, a vehicle of cooperation, peace and affection, human and cultural growth, solidarity. Thinking also about all this, Rome and its Mayor will welcome athletes, officials, fans and journalists on this special occasion, made even more special by the fact that, for the first time ever, the European Championship is organized by two countries together, Italy and OSG. They’ll live in unison their common passion and their volleyball excellence, but we are sure that --thinking back to those strong values—they’ll turn their attention also towards the idea of making of the World one and only great Nation, the Nation of Folks and Friendship. Welcome to Rome to the Volleyball European Championship!   Giovanni Malagò - Local organizing committee President I accepted with sincere enthusiasm to become President of the Local Organizing Committee of the Volleyball Senior Men’s European Championship that will take place in Rome and Belgrade from the 2nd to the 11th September 2005. I’ve immediately had the confirmation that I’d done the right choice because right from the start I found myself on the same wavelength as the ideal partners I started to cooperate with, such as Luciano Cecchi and Jacopo Volpi, the young and participating staff, the Italian Volleyball Federation and local authorities, especially the Town Council of Rome and its Mayor Veltroni, who always makes us feel his support. Our partnership is built on a philosophy very dear to me, based upon the importance of team spirit, ambitious goals that have to be reached --no matter what sacrifice might be needed to succeed--, the positive competition anxiety that is felt in the group before every significant challenge and the will to work on an event in itinere that is taking shape day after day. Walking on this path, our aim remains an organization and sport victory, as well as a human one, or at least the awareness that we’ve done our best --an awareness that should be set rule both in sport and life. There are great expectations on this championship that’ll see the twelve strongest volleyball teams of the continent facing each other in the two pools of Rome and Belgrade, and eventually in the finals in the Eternal City. Our hope is that this European Championship might respond to those expectations and be remembered not only as “an event”, but as “the Event”, and leave wonderful impressions on participants, journalists, delegates, fans and all the collaborators. This event will also be an important step on the way towards even more relevant targets, such as the World Championship of 2010. In fact the Committee that I have the honour of leading is currently working also for Rome’s candidature to host this extremely important volleyball event. Finally I leave my best wishes to everyone who’ll be in Rome for the European Championship, a friendly sign of appreciation for our work from them is surely the most gratifying satisfaction for us.