ISTANBUL

Supported by the Italian Foreign Ministry and organized by the Italian Embassy in Türkiye, the MeeTürkItaly meeting took place in Istanbul.

Hosted at the Venezia Palace of the Italian Embassy residence, the event was led by Italy's Ambassador to Türkiye Giorgio Marrapodi.

Key participants included Turkish Football Federation President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Ustundag, National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, National Women's Volleyball Team Head Coach Daniele Santarelli, and some Turkish officials.

Ambassador Marrapodi emphasized the significance of organizing this sports and diplomacy-themed event as part of a global initiative by Italian embassies.

Highlighting the shared cultural and social values between Türkiye and Italy, he expressed his satisfaction with the co-hosting of EURO 2032 and the presence of Italian coaches in Turkish football and volleyball.

Haciosmanoglu remarked on the close cultural ties between the two countries and noted Türkiye's success in the European Championship, while expressing hope for further achievements at the World Cup in the US.

He also referenced Türkiye and Italy potentially meeting in the final of EURO 2032, underscoring the spirit of friendship between the nations.

Meanwhile, Ustundag highlighted the strong cooperation between Türkiye and Italy in volleyball, praising the appointment of Santarelli as the head coach of the national team and noting the close collaboration between the Turkish and Italian volleyball federations.

He also stressed the role of Italian coaches in the development of Turkish volleyball.

Following the opening remarks, Montella and Santarelli participated in a panel discussion. Montella reflected on his experiences during EURO 2024, emphasizing the unity of the team and his personal pride in leading as a coach.

He also drew parallels between Türkiye and Italy, noting the passionate atmosphere in Türkiye, which, he said, reminded him of his own upbringing.

Santarelli also mentioned Türkiye's performance at the Olympics, underlining the lessons learned and the motivation to perform better at the next Games in Los Angeles.

He also shared his excitement during matches, describing Türkiye as a place where he could fully embrace his passion for sports.

* Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul