New York, June 16, 2026
On June 16, the exhibition “The Righteous in Sports” was inaugurated at the UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Gariwo Foundation in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations.
The exhibition tells the stories of athletes who, in different eras and places around the world, risked their own lives to defend human dignity and human rights – from Arpad Weisz, the Hungarian coach of Inter Milan and Bologna who was a victim of the Holocaust, to Gino Bartali, the cycling champion and paragon of altruism; from Afghan soccer player Khalida Popal to Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini, a symbol of salvation and resilience.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli emphasized the importance of preserving the memory and example of the Righteous, highlighting the role of sports in promoting peaceful cooperation, respect, and mutual understanding. DM Cirielli recalled the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ collaboration with the Gariwo Foundation in establishing the Garden and Avenue of the Righteous at the Farnesina, in honor of the Italian diplomats who went to great lengths to save lives and defend universal values.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition “The Righteous in Sports” alongside the Deputy Minister, speakers included Italy’s Permanent Representative to the UN Giorgio Marrapodi; the President of the Gariwo Foundation Gabriele Nissim; the UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming; and the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Chaloka Beyani.
Numerous ambassadors and representatives from countries around the world, as well as senior UN and Italian officials, were in attendance. The exhibition, which was originally presented in Milan during the Winter Olympics and has already been shown in several Italian cities, will remain on display at the UN Headquarters until June 26.
Tomorrow, June 17, Deputy Minister Cirielli, together with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, will open the Conference on Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), organized by Italy in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
