bahrainthismonth.com | NOVEMBER 2026 32 ITALY IN BAHRAIN A Sporting Synergy From Formula 1 and professional cycling to international championships and emerging talent, sport has become an important connection between Italy and Bahrain. Through shared achievements, technical expertise and opportunities for athletes, the two countries continue to strengthen a relationship that extends well beyond competition. Cycling Success Professional cycling offers another example of cooperation between the two countries. Team Bahrain Victorious brings together Bahraini sporting ambition and Italian expertise, with riders including Damiano Caruso, Antonio Tiberi, Edoardo Zambanini, Alessandro Borgo and Daniel Skerl competing under Bahrain’s colours. Tiberi’s achievements include winning the Maglia Bianca, awarded to the best young rider at the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Italian manufacturers also contribute to the team’s performance. Bianchi supplies its racing bicycles, incorporating technologies such as Countervail vibration reduction, while Alé Cycling provides specialist clothing and equipment. Together, these partnerships place Italian engineering and design at the centre of Bahrain’s international cycling presence. Sporting Diplomacy Beyond the competition itself, the Embassy of Italy in Bahrain has maintained an active presence at sporting events. Its participation in the last two editions of IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain, through a dedicated exhibition booth, reflects an ongoing commitment to engaging with the Kingdom’s sporting community. The Embassy also plans to participate in the next edition, scheduled for December 11, 2026. That enthusiasm extends to H.E. Andrea Catalano, the Italian Ambassador to Bahrain. Having discovered a passion for horse riding in the Kingdom, he has embraced equestrian sport with considerable determination, despite the occasional fall from the saddle. His experience offers a more personal illustration of the connections formed through sport. Beyond Borders The sporting exchange also extends to athletes competing across a wide range of disciplines. At the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Bahrain was represented by snowshoe athletes Mahmoud Mohsen and Rawan Al Saad, who prepared for their winter competition by training on the Kingdom’s desert sand. Mohsen secured a bronze medal, marking a memorable achievement for Bahrain at an international event dedicated to athletes with intellectual disabilities. In swimming, the Italian-born Bahraini Balzano brothers have also made their mark. Their performances in regional and international competitions have earned medals and established Bahraini national records, reflecting the opportunities created by sporting experiences spanning different cultures.
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