There couldn’t be a better way to remember two great Messina professionals who passed away too soon. The “Filippo Pinizzotto Award” award ceremony took place yesterday at the headquarters of the Press Association, in Piazza Antonello.
In the first edition of the initiative strongly supported by the Ussi section of Messina, the prize was awarded to Antonio Passalacqua who in September became world champion in skeet shooting in the Elica specialty. The “Ussi Estate Award” organized by the regional group of sports journalists was awarded to the rower Lucio Fugazzotto, three consecutive European singles beach sprint titles and recent bronze medal at the World Championships in Turkey.
Souvenir plaques were given to Mrs. Irene, widow of Filippo Pinizzotto, and to Mrs. Roberta, life partner of the former sporting director of Messina, Christian Argurio.
The president of the provincial section of Ussi, Marco Capuano, did the honors. «Filippo – he recalled – in addition to being a highly professional journalist, was a person always available to others, Christian was a friend of all with clear ideas and distinct ways with whom it was easy to communicate. With his expertise he was able to make his way in the sporting world at a management level, leaving an excellent memory everywhere.”
The provincial secretary of Assostampa, Sergio Magazzù and the provincial secretary of Ussi Luigi Andò said that it is “a strong emotion to remember people like Filippo and Christian”. For the vice-president of the Messina section of Ussi Pietro Di Paola, «it is nice that these prizes have been awarded to two young people as closely linked to our city as Pinizzotto and Argurio were». Gaetano Rizzo, president of Ussi Sicilia, was present.