Naples, Aqua Centurions donate blood to Pausilipon

Napoli. Children are the linchpin of the International Swimming League swimmers' day. And so if Fabio Scozzoli, Elena Di Liddo, Matteo Ciampi, Domenico Fioravanti, went to donate blood at the Pausilipon pediatric hospital to join the campaign "Donate blood, donate life", Lenny Krayzelburg, Ingrid Wilm and Maxime Rooney were at the Canottieri Napoli to meet the children and answer their questions.

At the pediatric hospital on Via Posillipo, the Aqua Centurions swimmers were welcomed by the Director of the Presidio Health Department, Dr. Nicola Silvestri, and by the director of the bone marrow and stem cell transplant unit, Dr. Francesco Paolo Tambaro, and by Dr. Flavia Matrisciano, director of the Santobono Pausilipon Foundation. Then Domenico Fioravanti and the CEO of Isl Andrea Di Nino donated blood.

“It is an important day for us – said Dr. Nicola Silvestri – because we are hosting champions who bring an important message, that of blood donation. Even more so for children. A testimony of closeness to our work and of solidarity”.

For Dr. Francesco Paolo Tambaro "Blood and platelets are the product with which we can carry out our therapies. Our children do not produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The athetes who came today have shown that they have not only a fit body but also a fit soul."

On the lounger Domenico Fioravanti, gm of Aqua Centurions: "It is an important moment because the testimony of us swimmers can encourage blood donation. It is a pity that the boys, engaged in the races, cannot donate it, but I am sure that their presence is an important testimony. Elena Di Liddo, bronze at the 2018 short course world championships, feels the testimony very close to her.

“I lost a loved one to a blood disease. I am here firmly convinced that helping with donations is essential”. For the multiple world medalist Fabio Scozzoli “unfortunately we cannot donate today but being here is important to raise awareness for everyone to do so”. A similar thought to that expressed by Matteo Ciampi: “Our goal is to promote this information campaign. Even more so if it is about helping a pediatric hospital”.

At Canottieri Napoli, an exchange of questions and gadgets between the boys from the yellow and red club and the protagonists of the International Swimming League such as Lenny Krayzelburg (3 gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke, as well as in the 4x100 m medley relay) Maxime Rooney and Ingrid Wilm, respectively GM and swimmers of LA Current.

“How do you become champions like you?” one of the questions asked to the American champions: “There are four most important aspects: drawing up and following a training program, letting yourself be guided by your coach and his advice, working hard but above all having a lot of fun” is the answer. “It was really nice and fun to have the opportunity to meet the children of the Circolo Canottieri Napoli and answer their questions about swimming and our life outside the pool. I hope I inspired them and maybe one day some of them will be able to take part in the ISL.”

Maxime Rooney's thoughts "I hope to see them again one day, they were very nice and it was really fun to share their emotions. We are waiting for them in the next few days to cheer for us at Scandone" added Ingrid Wilm

While waiting to return to the pool and thanks to the Campania Region and the councilor for social policies of the Municipality of Naples, Donatella Chiodo, the social activity of Isl continues tomorrow, Wednesday 15 September with Lorenzo Zazzeri, silver in Tokyo in the 4×100 freestyle relay and painter, who will meet the master Lello Esposito, one of the most celebrated artists on the Italian and international scene (https://lelloesposito.com/), at his Atelier in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore.

At 14 pm, the Energy Standard team will visit, at the invitation of the Campania Region, the MANN, the largest archaeological museum in the world, where ten works have been paired with as many teams that take part in the International Swimming League. At 19.30:200 pm, the Circolo Posillipo will award Chad Le Clos (Olympic champion of the 100 meters butterfly in London) and Siohban Haugey (silver in the 200m freestyle and XNUMXm freestyle in Tokyo) as part of its party.

ISL, acronym for International Swimming League, was born 3 years ago by the will of Konstantin Grigorishin, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist now based in London, who revolutionized the aquatic world with an innovative format involving major world cities and the most famous swimmers on the planet. In fact, ISL is a world team championship, created for the first time in 2019, in swimming. Since its first season, all the best athletes at international level have participated in ISL, with more than 150 Olympic and world medalists, with swimmers from more than 50 countries.

Among the most famous athletes who participated in ISL are the Americans Dressel and Ledecky, the Australians Campbell and Chalmers, the Europeans Sjostrom, Hosszu, Manaudou as well as all the best Italians, led by the "divine" Federica Pellegrini. By the will of Grigorishin himself, ISL has decided to return to the Campania Region and in particular to Naples, always using the Scandone Pool as the Main Venue, a facility renovated in 2019 thanks to the Universiade, and the Mostra d'Oltremare Pool as the Training Center, bringing the most important sporting event of 2021 to the city as well as a highly valuable economic spin-off. Then, on Thursday 16 February, the full Gevi Napoli team will be at the Scandone pool to attend the competitions

FORMAT – Three phases are planned, the Regular Season (Naples from August 26 to September 30) with a total of 11 matches for 22 match days. The second with the best 8 teams that will compete in November in the playoffs in Eindhoven and finally the Final Four scheduled for the first week of January. The official broadcaster of the event for Italy is Sky Sport.

TICKETS – All the races will take place from Thursday to Sunday. You can choose between tickets valid for individual events or for mini-season tickets for two days of races with the possibility of also purchasing season tickets for all the ISL races. Very interesting prices from 10 to 40 euros. Info, price and sales methods on the website www.vivaticket.it