It was delivered to Gianluca Vialli il “A Lion’s Heart” International Awardset up by Stelle in Sport and Ussi with the patronage of Aips, Coni and Cip to commemorate the figure of Gian Luigi Cortihistoric sports journalist and Italian manager, with his extraordinary story of passion, commitment and generosity.
In the aula magna of the FIGC Technical Center in Coverciano they were Michele Corti (president of Stelle in Sport, director of the Ussi Yearbook and son of Gian Luigi) e Gianfranco Coppola (President Ussi) to deliver the recognition to Head of delegation of the Italian national football team.
Chaired by Philip Grassiathe Jury was able to count on the support of important executives, technicians and sports journalists including Valentina Vezzali (Undersecretary for Sport) Giovanni Malagò (President Cones), Luca Pancalli (President Cip), Gianni Merlo (President Aips) and Gianfranco Coppola (President Ussi ). Gianluca Vialli was given a work of art created by the La Spezia painter Nicola Perucca.
“Passion, commitment, generosity and desire to never give up – underlines Filippo Grassia – are the characteristics that have distinguished Gian Luigi Corti, together with those dreams that have always permeated his horizons in sport as in life. These characteristics inspire the birth of the “A Lion’s Heart“, To give special recognition to those who do not give up in the face of climbs – even the hardest ones – and who always see the possibility of winning a new challenge”.
In 2020 the Jury examined and voted on the “stories” of Gianluca Vialli, Monica Contrafatto, Gianmarco Tamberi, Vanessa Ferrari, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Viviana Bottaro. Vialli himself climbed the top step of the podium. “Champion in the field. Star player in life ”, explains Gianfranco Coppola, summarizing the reason for the award. “Champion in the field. Star player in life ”, explains Gianfranco Coppola, summarizing the reason for the award. “Vialli is an example of courage, dignity and fortitude. An incentive for everyone to give that little bit more that allows them to face the challenges of life. After many successes as a football player and coach, teacher in his country and in the homeland of the Masters, as the English love to define themselves, certainly the progenitors of football, he has also made himself appreciated as a lucid, polite and at the same time never sloppy commentator. Today in the role of Head of delegation of the national team he confirms his extraordinary leadership made up of care of the locker room, confirming himself as a great example of courage, generosity, passion “.
Sports journalist and executive, gold star of sporting merit, Gian Luigi Corti for 25 years he was national councilor of the Italian Sports Press Union (vice president for 4 years) and founder of the Ussi Yearbook. For 16 years he was national manager of the Italian Volleyball Federation (vice-president for 8 years, head of delegation in Los Angeles in 1984 with the victory of the first Olympic medal in blue volleyball), then for 15 years manager of the National Association of Stars for Sports Merit of the Cones. “Genoa was his land, sport his horizon”, he underlines Michele Corti. “Characteristics that I find in Gianuca Vialli who left an indelible mark in Genoa and who, like my father, made passion and love for sport a reason for living”.
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THE PRIZE
A ball, energy, the green rectangle that has always been home. The colors of the sky that seem to remind her of her love for the Sampdoria. The 1st edition of the “Un Cuore da Leone” Award is a painting created by Nicola Perucca, painter, illustrator and graphic designer born in La Spezia in 1962. Perucca has to his credit numerous solo and group exhibitions in Italy and abroad. He collaborates with some art galleries that represent his work and with Italian publishing houses. He illustrated and illustrates storybooks and created thematic works and artistic objects for companies, public bodies, municipalities, port authorities, theater groups. He lives and works in La Spezia.
