The second edition of the Italian Sport Day Worldwide brought together athletes, diplomats, and innovators at the Yacht Club de Monaco under the theme “The Diplomacy of Sport: A Tool for Dialogue for the Well-being of the Future.”
Organised by the Embassy of Italy in Monaco and sponsored by the Offroad Club Monaco (OCM), the event was held under the presidency of H.E. Ambassador Manuela Ruosi, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and distinguished guests from the worlds of sport, academia, culture, and entertainment.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a remarkable sporting milestone: the first UIM World Record for long-distance jet skiing powered entirely by bioethanol, achieved by Dr Massimiliano Mordenti, pilot of the Monegasque Powerboating Federation and co-founder of the OCM. His record, officially recognised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), represents a fusion of sporting excellence and environmental commitment.
“The record was not just a sporting challenge but a message about sustainability,” said Dr Mordenti. “We chose bioethanol and gave up greater power because we believe sport must help build a future that respects the environment.”
The custom jet ski used to set the record was on display in the Yacht Club’s ballroom, drawing considerable attention from attendees. The craft, developed with engineer Andrea Pezzini, features a FlexFuel engine and an innovative anti-spill refuelling system designed to minimise environmental impact.
Throughout the evening, panellists explored the link between sport, diplomacy, and sustainability. Dr Diego Nargiso, Senior Sport Manager at the Politecnico di Torino and honorary member of the OCM’s Technical-Scientific Committee, chaired discussions on discipline, respect for rules, and the wider social role of sport. Professors Andrea Carteny, Giorgio Meneschincheri, and Francesca Romano Lenzi joined him in a session titled “Let’s Move Together for Our Health,” highlighting sport’s power to promote peace, unity, and well-being.
The event also featured interventions from leading sporting figures and advocates of sustainable sport, including Max Biaggi, Marco Simone, Gianmarco Casiraghi, Francesco Castellacci, Marlène Nidecker, Matteo Trentin, Jonathan Milan, and Davide Formolo. The evening concluded with a video tribute from Giorgio Armani, reaffirming his belief that “in sport, what I love is commitment.”
The Offroad Club Monaco expressed its gratitude to Prince Albert II, Ambassador Ruosi, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for their support, as well as to the Yacht Club de Monaco and its leadership for hosting the occasion.
The bioethanol jet ski record forms part of OCM’s wider initiative, “The Wake of Monaco,” which promotes environmentally conscious outdoor sport and intercultural dialogue. The club’s next institutional appointment will be held on November 21 at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, during an academic workshop titled “History and Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Mediterranean: From the Maritime Republics to the Technological Revolutions of the Present.”
