On October 29 and 30, 2026, the Consulate General of Italy in Miami, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) Miami Office and the Italian Cultural Institute of Miami, celebrated the Third Italian Sports Day in the World. Serving as special guest and ambassador for Italian sport was Paralympic sailor Antonio Squizzato, who took part in a series of initiatives dedicated to the excellence of Italy’s boating industry, maritime culture, sports diplomacy, and the promotion of inclusion through sailing.
The program formed part of the international roadshow promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the lead-up to the America’s Cup Naples 2027.
Against the global backdrop of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, on October 29 our Paralympic champion visited leading Italian exhibitors in the luxury yachting sector and inaugurated the Italian Pavilion, organized by the ITA Miami Office in partnership with the Consulate General. Set within an elegant lounge inspired by the colors of the sea and enriched by large-format imagery provided by the Italian Sailing Federation celebrating Italy’s athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Luna Rossa team, the Pavilion offered visitors an immersive journey through Italy’s maritime excellence.
Guests enjoyed screenings of the documentary series Terra Maris, presented on a continuous loop in dedicated viewing areas, as well as a multimedia immersive exhibition developed by the Galata Maritime Museum of Genoa and the Naval Museum of Imperia. A dedicated reading corner also allowed visitors to explore 100 Italian Stories of Sailing and the Sea, available both on iPads and in print, with complimentary copies presented to visiting international dignitaries and institutional representatives.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by representatives of Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa International Boat Show, highlighting the innovation, craftsmanship, and global leadership of Italy’s boating industry. The occasion also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong partnership between the Italian marine sector and its American counterparts, particularly in Florida, whose authorities, at the Consulate General’s invitation, participated for the first time in an official capacity at the Genoa International Boat Show last year.
From celebrating the achievements of Italy’s boating industry, the program turned to the social and inclusive dimension of sailing. On October 30, activities continued at the historic Shake-A-Leg Miami sailing center in Coconut Grove, one of Florida’s pioneering organizations dedicated to adaptive sailing, social inclusion, and community engagement.
In a spirit of shared values and a common passion for sport, Squizzato met with athletes, students, sailing enthusiasts, and members of the disability community. Reflecting on the milestones of his remarkable athletic career, he encouraged participants to pursue sport with determination, resilience, and confidence in its transformative power, both on and off the water.
The Consulate General’s program for the Third Italian Sports Day in the World concluded at the Italian Cultural Institute of Miami with a conversation dedicated to Squizzato’s personal and sporting journey before another large and enthusiastic audience.
The discussion explored his life experience and achievements, Italy’s rich sailing tradition, and the role of sport as a powerful instrument of inclusion and social renewal. Framed by Italy’s unique maritime heritage, shaped by the extraordinary beauty of its coastal landscapes and the enduring traditions of its seafaring communities, the event also offered an inspiring preview of the excitement surrounding the upcoming America’s Cup in Naples.
Over the course of two dynamic and engaging days, sports diplomacy served as a powerful platform for showcasing a distinctive dimension of Made in Italy: one rooted not only in excellence and innovation, but also in values, culture, and human achievement. Through the inspiring example of Antonio Squizzato, these initiatives highlighted the extraordinary ability of sport to build bridges, foster inclusion, and strengthen the longstanding ties between Italy and the United States.
The Consulate General of Italy in Miami extends its sincere gratitude to Antonio Squizzato and to all the institutions and organizations whose outstanding collaboration made these initiatives possible.
