This afternoon, together with Azzurre players Elena Linari, Elisa Bartoli and Annamaria Serturini, Italy Women Head Coach Milena Bertolini will, on behalf of the whole squad, receive a Marisa Bellisario Mela d’Oro (Golden Apple) Award. It’s an accolade that not only recognises the talent, energy and commitment the Azzurre have displayed to achieve important objectives, but also the way in which they’ve attracted many girls to the sport and conquered the hearts of Italians.

The awards ceremony will take place during the filming of the TV event “Donne che fanno la differenza” ("Women making a difference"), which will be broadcast on RAI 1 on 17 July. “Receiving such a prestigious award is a source of great pride for our National Team, so I’d like to thank the Foundation on behalf of the entire squad,” said Bertolini.

This morning, the Head Coach, Elena Linari, Lella Golfo (the Marisa Bellisario Foundation President), Stefano Lucchini (President of the Examining Committee of the Marisa Bellisario Award) and the other winners of the latest edition of the prize, which is now in its 33rd year, were received by Italy President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace.

Created in 1989 by Lella Golfo in memory of business leader and pioneer Marisa Bellisario, the Marisa Bellisario Award is now unanimously recognised as the most authoritative Italian accolade for female excellence. Managers, businesswomen, professionals, researchers, scientists and scholars, journalists, actresses and directors, fashion designers and even an astronaut: the long list of Golden Apple winners represents the largest and most important reservoir of female energy and talent.

Photo from the Quirinale website