The International Association of Sports Press (AIPS), founded in July 1924, celebrates 100 years of sports stories. The gala was themed around the magic of the Olympics, with Paris 2024 just gone, and was organised at the Teatro Cagnoni in Vigevano in collaboration with the Unione Stampa Sportiva Italiana (USSI). Some of the greatest Italian journalists were in attendance, as well as the AIPS President Gianni Merlo and the Azzurre Head Coach Andrea Soncin who was awarded for his excellent conduct in relation to the press and for the positive image he’s given of his position in the Federation.

The Head Coach spoke upon accepting the award, beloved by fans, to the applause of those present, especially for the following phrase: “It’s finally time to talk about football played by women and not ‘women’s football’”. From his same town, Merlo and the president of the USSI Gianfranco Coppola presented Soncin with the award before welcoming various sports journalists to the stage. The evening faded out to the notes of ‘Nessun Dorma’, chosen in light of the 100-year anniversary of the death of Giacomo Puccini. Amongst the journalists awarded were Jacopo Volpi for Rai Sport, receiving a career award; Lucia Blini from Sport Mediaset; Nicola Roggero from Sky and Matteo Pacor from Discovery.