by InTrieste
The city of Trieste marked “Nino Benvenuti Day” on Monday, celebrating the life and legacy of one of Italy’s most celebrated boxing champions. Regional and civic leaders announced that this year’s Corsa del Ricordo, a commemorative road race now in its eighth edition, will be renamed the 1st Nino Benvenuti Memorial.
The decision was unveiled at the Palazzo della Regione during a ceremony organized by the Italian Sports and Social Associations (ASI) and the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia (ANVGD), in collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
“Nino Benvenuti was not only a great sportsman, but also an example of values, loyalty, and attachment to his homeland,” said Fabio Scoccimarro, the regional councillor for Environment, Energy, and Sustainable Development.
The race is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, starting at 10 a.m. at the National Monument of the Foiba of Basovizza, a symbolic site tied to the memory of the region’s history.
Mr. Scoccimarro, who described himself as a personal friend of the champion, recalled Benvenuti’s early life in Istria. Born in the town of Isola, Benvenuti and his family were among those who left after the area came under Yugoslav rule in the aftermath of World War II. “Through his talent and dedication to the noble art of boxing, he was able to find redemption in Italy and become a symbol of the integration of exiles during years that were politically, socially, and economically difficult,” he said.
Benvenuti, who rose to international fame in the 1960s, remains a towering figure in Italian sports, remembered not only for his victories in the ring but also for his role in embodying resilience during a turbulent period of regional history.
