The new CONI boss: “The state sports center is outdated”

He explains in the s+ interview which board team he wants to tackle the hot sports issue with, why he thinks the much-discussed state sports center is unnecessary, what role the Association of South Tyrolean Sports Clubs VSS plays in his considerations and how he assesses the Olympic chances of natural track tobogganers.

Alex Tabarelli in portrait.

Alex Tabarelli on… …his decision to run as South Tyrolean CONI President: “I've been in office as deputy for four years now, so I've seen everything that's going on in South Tyrolean sport. The aim is to give the entire institution a boost. The status of the National Olympic Committee in South Tyrol must become even higher. Heinz Gutweniger has done a great job, but in terms of external perception, the South Tyrolean CONI comes off too badly. After all, our national associations are the ones that organize competitive sports at all levels. And if South Tyrol has this extraordinary wealth of world-class athletes, then it is thanks to us, together with the member clubs in the individual associations.”

…the process of the new elections: “It will start on Saturday, March 13th at 9.30:38 a.m. in the Sparkasse Academy in Bolzano. In South Tyrol we have 19 presidents of the various specialist sports associations as well as delegates from the associations affiliated with CONI. For the election to be valid, 1 presidents must be present. Theoretically, 15 vote is enough for me to be elected. I am the only candidate. The deadline to run as a presidential candidate expired last Friday. In order to be able to run as a candidate, you need the support of at least XNUMX specialist sports associations.”

…the deep traces that Heinz Gutweniger left behind during his 27 years in office: “He accomplished a lot, initiated a lot. In the last 4 years, as vice president, I have been able to learn a lot and at the same time come up with new ideas. I want to implement this with my team as best as possible. The absolute priority is that we can all do sports again. I particularly focus on children and young people. Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, sport has been second and third priority. That needs to change. No matter how many criteria and compliance with protective measures are required, the children have to go out again.”

Tabarelli's predecessor Heinz Gutweniger (l.) with the national CONI President Giovanni Malagò © os

…medium-term goals: “We have to ensure that we keep all of our major winter events for the long term, ideally forever. Then we need visions of how we can continue to encourage as many children and young people as possible to take up sport. We need to work more closely with schools and even better with clubs. Only if we continue to have a broad base will South Tyrol be able to continue to play an exceptional role.”

…necessary and unnecessary sports infrastructure: “The days of building huge sports facilities are over. The cathedrals, which are hardly used, are outdated. This also applies to the so-called state sports center, which has been discussed for many years. The specialist sports associations are no longer in favor of it. I don't think we need it. Setting it up would be a big expense. Keeping it in good shape is an even bigger one.”

…the expired agreement with CONI in Rome, which guarantees 1 million euros annually for sports infrastructure: “Renewing this agreement is a priority. There is great hope that even more will emerge in the future, perhaps even twice as much. In general, we are very well positioned in the outskirts with the sports facilities. But there is a huge lack in cities like Bolzano and Merano. On the other hand, we must be able to use the sports facilities – no matter where – efficiently, including the school facilities. And not just during peak hours from 18 p.m. to 22 p.m. in the evening, but also at other times. We have to learn to become more flexible, to think and to act.”

…the role of the VSS as a “competitive association”: “I don’t see the VSS as competition in any way. The VSS, the USSA (Association of Italian-speaking sports clubs in South Tyrol) and all other sports associations do exceptionally good work, especially at the grassroots level. Everyone should do their job. We as CONI and as individual specialist sports associations take care of competitive sports, up to the top and world-class level. At VSS, USSA, etc. the focus is on recreational sports. We are in constant, mutual exchange. After all, we’re all about one thing: getting people all over the country excited about the sport.”

…about the 2026 Olympics: “5 years until then may seem like a long time, but that is a mistake. We have to set the course as quickly as possible so that we can present sports there that affect South Tyrol. Of course, the natural track sledders have high hopes and we will do everything we can to ensure that they can present themselves at the home Olympics. The curlers also have hope. The ski mountaineers and ice climbers want to be included. In my opinion, the natural track sledders have the best chance, but nothing has been decided yet.”

…the possible bias as a journalist: “I can’t imagine that, on the contrary. Through my work as a sports journalist, I get around a lot, see a lot of things, and have excellent contact with athletes, coaches and officials. I will not be a paid president, but a volunteer one.” This is what the new South Tyrolean CONI board should look like: Candidate for President: Alex Tabarelli

Candidates for the board (7 people): 1. Richard Weißensteiner (President of the South Tyrolean Tennis Association FIT) 2. Bruno Cappello (athletics) 3. Elisabetta Ticcò (equestrian sports/FISE) 4. Stefano Podini (handball/athlete representative) 5. Roland Brenner (winter sports/coach representative) 6. Orlando Pirini (FISO/affiliated disciplines) 7. Gabriella Dalla Lana (UISP) 8. Giuseppe Durante (CNS) Notes: There must be two women represented on the board. Bruno Cappello and Orlando Pirini were already represented on the “old” board.

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The new CONI boss: “The state sports center is outdated”

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