PELÈ AND ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES OPEN UP “SPORT MOVIES & TV 2004”



Adhesions are literally falling down on "Sport Movies & TV 2004 – 22nd International Festival” just a few days before its start. The Festival, organized by IOC-endorsed Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs (FICTS), will be held from October 29 until November 3 in Milan and will have 204 films and videos competing, selected from the 981 sent from 42 Countries.

On October 29, European Premiere for the media with the film “Pelé Eterno”, the most complete documentary on the career of the great “O’ Rey”, that will be introduced by Pelé himself and by Brazilian Director Anibal Massaini Neto.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on October 30 at 18.00 at al Palazzo Giureconsulti (Piazza dei Mercanti,2) with the Italian authorities and famous people from sport, journalism and show business and with the delivery of “Guirlande d’Honneur” to 19 Italian athletes who earned medals at Athens Olympic Games (among them, 10 gold medallists). The most impressive images from Athens will be projected, thanks to Olympic Museum of Lausanne, as well as the Emblem video for Beijing 2008 Games, directed by famous Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, and the premiere video realized by the Organizing Committee of Turin 2006 Winter Games.

Every day from 15.30 to 23, 6 inside screen and 1 maxi-screen in Piazza Duomo will show the Festival participants completely free of charge.

News from Festival and detailed program with synopsis, schedale and pictures is available on the new website www.sportmoviestv.com; further details can be requested at info@ficts.com.

The Festival features works entered by the most important producers, networks, Olympic Commmittees and Federation from around the World, and is held under the High Patronage of the President of Italian Republic, with the collaboration of FIAT introducing the New Panda 4x4, Regione Lombardia, Province and City of Milan, European Commission and Chamber of Commerce.

The event will be presented to Media by Festival Director and International FICTS President, Prof. Franco Ascani, in the Press Conference Thursday October 28, 2004 at 11.30 am (invitation enclosed) in the Alessi Hall of Palazzo Marino (Piazza Scala 2, Milan).