Italia RFL Recognised by Italian Olympic Committee

[DIEHARD]

Italia RFL Recognised by Italian Olympic Committee

The Italia RFL has been recognised by CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) as an official federal organisation and exclusive in promoting and developing Rugby League (or Rugby a 13) in Italy.

The Federation thus reaches the objective that had been set by the FIAG13 in 1960, recognition of the major Italian sports body, IOC member and an official in the sport life of our country. We collect the legacy of the pioneers of Italian 13 hoping to have better luck and to contribute to the growth of the code and Italian sport.

The acceptance of our request passes through the evaluation of the real forces on the field, teams and the number of participants involved and members licensed by a commission of the Committee. In the coming months the relationship between the Italia and CONI will lead to regular and full recognition of Rugby League as a Associate Sport Disciplines (DSA) as one of the federations affiliated to the National Committee. Our association reaches the 19 others in the same category: Associate Sport Disciplines with CONI alongside of sports such as Cricket, Handball, American football and Rafting.

The recognition will provide large government funding for the sport through CONI to further develop the senior competitions and deliver grassroots development for the code with years to come. As per the 2011 CONI Annual Budget, the funding contributed through government and entity revenue values was ?259.486.547 for National Sport Federations (FSN) and ?3.260.000 for Associate Sport Disciplines (DSA).

Our days of intensive work to prepare the statutes of our association to adhere to the laws and regulations that CONI provides for its members are recognised. The newly-elected president David Massitti said: "Achieving the official recognition by the Coni is an honor, as well as a turning point between the pure passion and the beginning of a much more serious and professional way, we will develop by following rules and strict methodologies. In all probability if recognition was the case with our predecessors in the sixties, perhaps the story would have been different. We now have the opportunity to continue from that point: Rugby League is a sport for the institutions themselves, certainly akin, but different from rugby union. The ability to access all facilities that the official recognition gives us will be a driving force for the development of our sport, the fact that the CONI (Olympic Committee) is an important member of the IOC and involved in the Olympics opens up a much larger scenario for the same discipline itself, not only for us. "

Italia RFL presented the Committee with evidence of work developed to date that had materialized in the first winter tournament that has ever been seen for Italian Rugby League since 1961, the Italian Cup (Coppa Italia), contested by 8 teams in the months of February and March and concluding in Rome, at the stage of Borghesiana with the victory of Etruschi Perugia. The Cup was followed by the Italian Championship, called r-Evolution League, played by five teams with a competition in the months of June and July which involved teams from North to South. The final played at the historic stadio dei Marmi in front of a good audience was won for the second time by Gladiators Roma.

The Italia RFL, pursuing the objective of a development that is the best possible, want to follow the guidelines of the European and International Federations, though there is no official recognition, as far as we can make our own, the spirit and the rules which are dictated by our bodies of reference: the CONI and, indeed, the RLIF.

Our next aim is to close the gap of the souls of the Italian Rugby League, a reunification that we hoped for the day, following the separation of 2010, based on respect for democracy and Rugby League itself. In this mission, the great availability of the RLIF Development Manager, Mr. Bortolo Tas Baitieri, has been immensely helpful, for comparison and continuous inspiration for reflection and growth. His participation in the events and his passion in Italy was able to give the push towards a solution that hopefully, can be close and fruitful. In June of this year, following an invitation and the presence of Mr. Baitieri, representatives of the two associations met in Venice at a meeting of confrontation which had given an encouraging result was accepted as the the condition of the principle of democratic representation, namely the election of a board based on teams which proved their existence and that had played in the competitions of the respective associations to form a single and best body.

The Italia RFL, following the decrees of Italian law, the rules of the CONI and indications/opinions of Mr. Baitieri advances formally reiterates the invitation to the FIRL and puts to the field 13 clubs since the 2010 Championship and their representatives, still waiting to know what they are, in addition to only 2 known, the teams and representatives thereof, associated with the FIRL.

We find that the formula of democracy and representation is the input for a better constituent phase that gives rise to a body that represents the four key aspects in each association: clubs, players, coaches and referees. The same principles are the foundation of all successful federations and we want you to remember that the same history of Rugby League began thus: "On 29 August 1895, representatives of twenty-two clubs met in the North of England at the George Hotel in Huddersfield to form the Northern Rugby Football Union ".

To see the 2011 r-Evolution League Highlights, Full Footage and Photos please visit the Italia RFL Coverage turns International press release at www.irfleague.it

[DIEHARD]

Very good news for Rugby League in Italy!