European football championships: the mascot is signed by the Oscar winner Carlo Rambaldi

It bears the signature of Carlo Rambaldi the mascot of the 2020 European football championships which are in full swing. Light blue t-shirt, white shorts and shoes soccer: this is the clothing of the mascot symbol of the sporting competition, a smiling and cuddly Maremma-Abruzzese shepherd puppy. Truly a 'tender and sweet creation' born from the eclectic imagination of the late Maestro Rambaldi, three times Oscar winner, who passed away on August 10, 2012.

An Oscar-winning mascot

In 2007 the 'magician' of special effects of world cinema delivered the book with the sketches to Gabriel Gravina, current president of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation). Those drawings were jealously guarded by Gravina who pulled them out for the 2020 European Championships. They collaborated in the realization of the final project Victor and Daniela Rambaldi, sons of the great master of cinema as well as owners of the Carlo Rambaldi Foundation. The Atelier department of the Foundation under the guidance of the artist developed the original drawing in a 3D version Fabio Dal Molin.

Azzurri House

The first sketches created by the genius of cinema and all the work subsequently done for the three-dimensional realization of the Europeans' mascot are exhibited in a special corner dedicated to Carlo Rambaldi inside 'Casa Azzurri'. In fact, the FIGC wanted to dedicate an exhibition area to Carlo Rambaldi Foundation and Rambaldi Promotions to pay homage to a great Italian. And also to say 'thank you' to the Rambaldi family who, through the activities of the Foundation, promote the work of the Academy Award especially among the younger generations. Activities whose organization and coordination is entrusted to Joseph Lombardi, director of the Foundation.

A Maremma Shepherd puppy for mascot

In the notes attached to the sketch of the mascot, Carlo Rambaldi explains why he chose the image of the Maremma-Abruzzo shepherd. “He is a dog with great courage, decision-making skills, typically Italian. Its history is intimately linked to the millenary history of our land and its people, suitable for representing the most beautiful sport in the world, the passions it arouses and the Italian spirit ". An animal that has met the favor of the great creative for "the ability to take initiative, competitiveness, loyalty, sense of the group".

(Thanks to the Rambaldi family for the concession of the images)