by Maximiliano Crocamo
interviews: Massimiliano Fedriga, governor of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region; Massimo Righi, President of Lega Pallavolo Serie A (Italian Men’s Volleyball League)
Trieste will host the final stages of the Del Monte Italian Men’s Volleyball Super Cup this weekend, bringing four of the country’s top clubs to the northeastern port city for a two-day tournament at PalaTrieste.
The competition, scheduled for Feb. 28 and March 1, will feature Itas Trentino, Sir Susa Vim Perugia, Cucine Lube Civitanova and Rana Verona. The semifinals will be played on Saturday, with Trentino facing Perugia at 3:30 p.m., followed by Civitanova against Verona at 6 p.m. The winners will meet in the final on Sunday at 3 p.m.
At a news conference on Friday, Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, described the event as an international-level showcase for a sport that has seen steady growth in Italy in recent years, both in the men’s and women’s game. Attendance figures in arenas across the country, he said, reflect the sport’s expanding appeal.
Fedriga was joined by Trieste’s mayor, Roberto Dipiazza, Massimo Righi, president of the Italian men’s volleyball league, and Giuseppe Manfredi, head of the national federation. Officials emphasized the technical level of the tournament, noting that several of the world’s leading players are expected to compete.
The matches will be broadcast nationally on Rai 2, offering additional visibility for both the sport and the region. Regional authorities said they view such events as part of a broader strategy to promote Friuli Venezia Giulia as a destination capable of hosting major competitions, citing modern facilities and coordination among local sports organizations and institutions.
Fedriga also linked the tournament to wider public health goals, announcing a new regional initiative with Sport e Salute, Italy’s public company for sports development, aimed at encouraging physical activity among young people. He pointed to rising rates of chronic illnesses associated with sedentary lifestyles and stressed the importance of investing in youth sports as a preventive measure.
For Trieste, better known internationally for its literary and maritime history, the Super Cup represents another opportunity to position itself as a venue for high-profile sporting events — and, for fans, a weekend featuring some of the strongest teams in Italian volleyball competing for the season’s first trophy.
