Events on land: the focus is on sports, culture and the Navy

The afternoon at land was all about the Italian Navy, which presented the 2025 edition of the International Sailing Week, organised in collaboration with the Naval Academy, the city of Livorno, and the committee of Livorno’s sailing clubs, which will take place in Livorno from 25 April to 4 May 2025. In the Sala Ridotto at Teatro Giuseppe Verdi, the Navy's 2025 Calendar was then presented. This year the calendar, dedicated to Fondazione Francesca Rava-NPH Italia ETS, stands out for its especially relevant and humane theme: ‘The faces and smiles of Navy staff’. The emotions and dedication of the men and women who serve our country at sea with commitment and passion are told through twelve evocative pictures taken by photographer Massimo Sestini.

The big celebrations on land also featured an unusual event, the Barcolana SKI – sci alpino vista mare (alpine skiing with a sea view), organised by Promoturismo FVG to reinforce the idea of a unique territory. The focus was on some of alpine skiing’s former champions and legends, representing the countries surrounding the Alps and the Adriatic – Austria, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia. Among them are Elisabeth Goergl, two-time world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medallist; Ivica Kostelić, winner of four Olympic medals, three World Championship medals, and one World Cup overall title; Kristian Ghedina, winner of three World Championship medals and 13 World Cup races; and Tina Maze, Olympic champion and winner of four World Championships and one World Cup overall title.

In the morning a promotional giant slalom team race took place on the artificial slope of the Neve Sole sports facility in Aurisina, a winter sports training centre recognised by the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI). The competition, organised in cooperation with Sci Club 70, was open to the public. The faces of the race and former champions led four teams, made up of 12 young skiers from FISI’s regional alpine skiing team. The event continues at 5 p.m., when the skiing legends will be welcomed at the ‘Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia’ (I am Friuli Venezia Giulia) stand for the prize-giving ceremony in the presence of the authorities and will be available to sign autographs. Afterwards they will board the ‘Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia'-branded Solaris 60 yacht for a sea trip to discover the Gulf of Trieste.