Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the country’s women’s and men’s national volleyball teams to Palazzo Chigi, celebrating their historic dual triumph at the 2025 World Championships.

This marks the second consecutive edition in which both teams secured gold, reaffirming Italy’s dominance on the global volleyball stage. The athletes were joined by men’s team coach Ferdinando De Giorgi, women’s team coach Julio Velasco, Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Italian Volleyball Federation President Giuseppe Manfredi, and Italian National Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio.

Meloni praised the teams for their discipline, teamwork, and national pride, calling their achievements “a symbol of Italian excellence and resilience.” The meeting underscored the government’s support for sports as a pillar of youth development and international representation.