Matteoli receives Italy’s top sporting honour

Ugo Claudio Matteoli, the President of FIPSAS – the body that represents anglers in Italy – is pictured with his country’s highest sporting honour.

Matteoli has been presented with the Golden Collar by CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee, in recognition of his long and illustrious career not only in recreational fishing, but promoting sport in general in the country.

At a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, Matteoli was among a number of sports personalities to be honoured.

Matteoli, who is also head of the Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive (CIPS) and FIPSed Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau (FIPSed), said: “I am extremely proud and happy to receive the Collare D’Oro – the highest honour that CONI awards to Olympic, World or European athletes and – in a few cases – executives who for many years of commitment both nationally and internationally have contributed to the Italian anthem being sung and our flag waved all over the world.

“It is a recognition of work done by me and my colleagues and the first time a non-Olympic and non-professional federation has been awarded this honour. It is recognition for the entire FIPSAS movement.”