54 - Athletics, the “Guerin d'oro” sports award, presented by the magazine “Guerin Sportivo” in 1970 to Primo Nebiolo (1923–1999), president of Italian athletics Total height: 26.00 cm; Base: 9.00 x 8.50 cm

Athletics, the “Guerin d'oro” sports award, presented by the magazine “Guerin Sportivo” in 1970 to Primo Nebiolo (1923–1999), president of Italian athletics Total height: 26.00 cm; Base: 9.00 x 8.50 cm “Guerino,” the medieval knight and mascot of the magazine, is crafted from gilded bronze and mounted on a column with a black marble base. The central brass plaque bears the inscription: “PRIMO NEBIOLO-GUERIN D’ORO-1970.” This prestigious award was created by the renowned sports journalist Gianni Brera during his tenure as editor-in-chief of “Guerin Sportivo,” currently the world’s longest-running sports magazine. The awarding of this prize to a memorable sportsman like Nebiolo—who was, however, a stranger to the world of soccer—is a rare and unique event. It is no coincidence that this essentially unedited first version of the “Guerin d’oro” depicts the famous “Guerino” kicking a ball. Since 1976, with the arrival of the new Editor-in-Chief Italo Cucci, the award—as well as the magazine’s format—has undergone a complete redesign. Nebiolo had taken charge of Italian athletics the previous year, rising to the presidency of the IAAF World Athletics Federation from 1981 until his death (and was re-elected for another four-year term just months before his death); he was a member of the CONI Board from 1973 to 1989 (serving as vice president from 1978), and a member of the IOC from 1990, thanks to a personal appointment by President Samaranch in recognition of his special merits. Italian and world athletics probably owe everything to this man.