The great summer of Sportiva Sturla was presented in the Municipality, on 6 and 7 July the 20th Panarello-Trofeo del Mare Tournament

“La Sportiva Sturla confirms, once again, its great commitment in directing major events and its leading role in the Genoese swimming scene – these are the words of Alessandra Bianchi, municipal sports councilor – After having remembered the passionate and competent figure of Fabio Gardella in lifesaving, we are on the eve of some important events which have entered the hearts of the Genoese also for the strong link with the history of our city. From the Morena Memorial which returns, in the year in which we are the European Capital of Sport, after the forced stop in the years marked by the pandemic, to the Panarello Trophy which takes us back to the origins of water polo, the one played at sea, up to the celebration of a prestigious milestone : the 80th Sturla Sea Mile which, year after year, sees the number of participants grow and involves people of all ages. A summer truly full of events, with the pearl of the three call-ups of Sturlini athletes for the World and European Lifesaving Championships"

“The events that Sportiva Sturla organizes every year in the summer are one of the flagships of the sport practiced in the summer in our region – states Simona Ferro, regional councilor for Sport –These are the events that many professionals and sportspeople in general await because they have a history and a coat of arms behind them and allow a sense of competitive and pleasant atmosphere. Furthermore, they also have a promotional purpose: they introduce young people to so-called water sports, but also suggest conscious lifestyles. Welcome back to the Memorial Morena, but it will also be nice to find events that will connect us even more with the sea such as the Panarello Trophy for water polo and the Miglio Marino di Sturla for swimming".

The Morena Memorial, in memory of the water polo series A1 referee referee Enrico Morena, returns after 5 years of absence, with the support of the Municipality of Genoa and the Liguria Region together with the participation of the Federation Italian Swimming, European Swimming League and CONI.  In addition to dedicating it to the traditional categories of the competition, Beginners "B", Beginners "A" and Boys, the new regulation of the Sportiva Sturla also opens participation to Juniors and Cadets. All this to extend participation to those who, due to the long suspension, were unable to participate in the competition between 2020 and 2023. 770 athletes are registered (born between 2004 and 2015 in force to 26 clubs, three of which are foreign: the French of Olympic Nice Natation and Team Marseille Natation, together with the Romanians of Delphin Inot Club Constanta in total 2300 attendances/match, with 120 prizes awarded in the event. span of the three days of comparisons at Sciorba and 6 special prizes reserved for the best performances. The novelty of 2024 is represented by the Australian style finals (skin race) for the 50m races of the Cadet category 2004 and 2015. Among the athletes of of importance, there will be  Anna Balbis (Rari  Nantes Imperia); athlete of the national youth team who won gold in the 100m breaststroke and in the 4x100m mixed at the Mediterranean Cup in Limassol, Klaudio  Agaj >(Genova Nuoto My Sport), winner of two gold medals (100 and 200 breaststroke); silver (200 medley)  and one bronze (400 medley) at the Riccione Criteria, Virginia Uccelli ( Superba Nuoto), bronze in the 200 and 800 freestyle at the Riccione Criteria and at the Italian Indoor Cross Country Championship, and Valentina Solari (Genova Nuoto My Sport) medaled at the Riccione Criteria in the 200 butterfly. The competitions will start on Friday 5 July at 3pm, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July at 9am. The event is supported by Locanda San Biagio, Timossi and MP Fun & Sport.

The Trofeo Panarello-Torneo del Mare was born in 2003 from an idea shared by the then coach of the first water polo team, Franco Falcone, together with senators Massimo Chiabrera and Lorenzo Ferrari. The objective, renewed also in this twentieth edition, is to combine the sporting side with the more evocative and romantic side of the sea. Promoting water polo at sea, as in the origins, is a special mission for La Sportiva and throughout the summer it will be possible in the field set up in the waters in front of the registered office in Via V Maggio. The preliminary phases will take place on Saturday 6 July while the finals will be held in the Sturla bay. Great participation in the Master, Juniores, Under 11 and Under 9 categories with over 340 athletes. Master (sea activities), Under 9 (pool activities) and Under 11 (pool activities) will play all the matches in Sturla, the Junior preliminaries and semi-finals will be played at sea on Saturday in Arenzano and Camogli (finals at sea on Sunday in Sturla). Among the Masters, Sturla, Vintage RSA To81, Vintage Youth To81, NoticNantes, Sori and Savona. Among the Juniors, Arenzano, Aragno, Camogli, Sori, Locatelli, Chiavari and Crocera are in the water. Among the Under 11s Sturla, Andrea Doria, Quinto, Camogli, Sori and Bogliasco. Among the Under 9s, Sturla, Bogliasco, Sori and Quinto. On Sunday afternoon the public will be able to watch a special match between players in period costumes.  The Trofeo Panarello-Torneo del Mare makes use of the fundamental support of Panarello, Maruzzella, Pastificio Alta Valle Scrivia, Il Pesto di Pra', Scialla, Latte Tigullio, Cellini, Tre Più, ai Troeggi and Ninni .

The first Miglio Marino di Sturla dates back to September 1913 when the cross-country skier Enrico Rossi organized the challenge between the very young Salvatore Cabella (born in Sturla), an excellent water polo goalkeeper at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, and the champion Malito Costa (Argus Santa Margherita Ligure). In 2024, the year of the special eightieth edition, the historical route to the Quarto monument and back is planned, as per tradition. In the morning, Sunday 8 September, the Piccolo Miglio reserved for athletes from the Beginners category to the Boys category. At lunch time there will be space for the Amateurs, the true essence of the Sturla millet, all with mandatory safety buoys. At 3pm it is the turn of Agonists and Masters divided into different batteries. Registration for amateurs will open shortly, for competitive athletes at the beginning of August. The goal of Sportiva Sturla is to exceed over 415 attendances in 2023. The water safety service will be enriched with the presence of the SUP Angels, supported by the Italian champions of the lifesaving swimming team > of Sportiva Sturla, from the friends of Canoa Verde for an increasingly greener Marimile . The coastal companies that always help the organization will contribute to the preparation of the competition field and the transport of the jury and doctor: USS “Dario Gonzatti”, Circolo Nautico Sturla, Dinghy Snipe Club, Circolo Vele Vernazzolesi and Unione Sportiva Quarto.

A truly special summer for Sportiva Sturla, also on the competitive front. In lifesaving swimming, in fact, Cecilia Moretti will participate in the European Youth Championships from 29 June to 5 July. Carlotta Tortello andNiccolò Di Tullio will compete in the Open World Championship from 27 August to 1 September.

Manuela D'Angelo
Press Office of the Municipality of Genoa