Italian Embassy Promotes Sports Diplomacy With Mini-Series On Motorcycling Excellence

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) — The Italian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur last night launched the world preview of the first episode of “Moto d’Italia — Culture, Beyond the Track” — a four-episode mini-series celebrating Italian excellence in motorcycling.

The audiovisual project was part of the sports diplomacy actively promoted by the Italian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry in close collaboration with MotoGP, the Italian Motorcycling Federation (FMI), National Association of Cycles, Motorcycles and Accessories (ANCMA), International Exhibition of Cycles, Motorcycles and Accessories (EICMA) and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE).

The launch also coincided with the official kick-off of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship season in Kuala Lumpur this weekend, the Embassy said in a statement.

The series is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the Italian motorcycle supply chain — a hallmark of Italian manufacturing excellence and, at the same time, an integral part of Italian cultural identity, capable of bringing together industry, expertise, creativity, and passion.

“Motorsport and the racetrack environment represent a point of convergence between competition, research and vision.

“Through a collective narrative, the voices of company leaders and institutional representatives intertwine with riders, engineers, designers, and technical professionals, conveying an ‘Italian method’ based on cross-pollination of knowledge and proximity of skills,” it said.

Italian Ambassador to Malaysia Raffaele Langella emphasised the role of sport as a tool of diplomacy, especially ahead of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, which open on Feb 6.

“From two wheels to winter sports, today more than ever sport represents a bridge between our peoples and our cultures, while also generating new opportunities for companies operating in the sector,” he said at the launch of the project on Thursday.

Chief Executive Officer of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta, who attended the event, also praised the initiative for celebrating Italy’s rich racing heritage and strengthening MotoGP’s cultural ties with one of its most influential motorsport nations.

“We are proud to support an initiative that celebrates Italian excellence and strengthens the connection between MotoGP and one of its most influential motorsport nations.

“We are also grateful to Ambassador Langella and the Embassy for their vision and commitment in bringing this project to life, and for their continued partnership in promoting the global values of our sport,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Ministry said Italy has made sports diplomacy a strategic pillar of its foreign policy in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games with the creation of the Office for Sports Diplomacy two years ago.

“For these reasons, Italy has chosen to invest decisively in sports diplomacy, making it a structural component of its foreign policy.

“The Olympic Games embody values such as fair and peaceful competition among young people from across the world and have always stood as a universal symbol of peace, respect and inclusion. 

“In an international context marked by conflict, sport remains a credible space for dialogue. The Olympic Games were born in the name of peace,” it added.

-- BERNAMA