By Nick Butler

The Italian National Olympic Committee have signified a new age with the unveiling of a new logo ©CONIA new logo has been unveiled by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in a bid to mark a "new age" in the history of the governing body.


The logo, consisting of a shield displaying the three colours that make-up the Italian Flag in an elegant gold border adjacent to the CONI inscription the five Olympic Rings, was unveiled at a special ceremony in Rome attended by the four living past and present leaders of CONI.

Giovanni Malagò, the most recent of these, who was appointed President in February 2013, closed the ceremony by expressing that recent changes are "in keeping with history and tradition this innovation can give value to our system".

"Sport can improve the health of Italy," he added.

"With this logo we will take great satisfaction, it will allow us to have additional resources."

It was claimed the "new age" continues the innovation displayed by the governing body under Franco Carraro, head from 1978 to 1987, Mario Pescante, who led from 1993 to 1998, and Giovanni Petrucci, the President from 1999 to 2013.

The trio each selected personal Italian sporting highlights during their tenure at the helm, including the high jump victory for Sara Simeoni at Moscow 1980, the men's 4x10 kilometres cross-country relay win at Lillehammer 1994 when Italy overhauled Norway in the closing stages, and the visit of Pope John Paul II in the Golden Jubilee year of 2000. 

Pope John Paul's visit to the Olympic Stadium in Rome in 2000 was selected as an Italian sporting highlight ©Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesPope John Paul's visit to the Olympic Stadium in Rome in 2000 was selected by Giovanni Petrucci as an Italian sporting highlight ©Hulton Archive/Getty Images



The event also outlined the programme of celebrations to mark 100 years of CONI next month, which is due to begin on June 8 with the event marking "100 Years of History - 1 Day of Sport".
 
The celebrations will conclude on June 10 with a concert at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome attended by Oscar winning composer Ennio Morricone, as well as Italian sporting figures including the Sydney 2000 Olympic windsurfing champion Alessandra Sensini and the Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006 luge gold medal winner Armin Zöggeler.

In those 100 years, Italy have never missed a Summer or Winter Olympics, and have won a total of 535 medals, of which 191 have been gold.

A special centenary coin will also be circulated to mark the occasion. 

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