In 2019, Vatican Athletics had been established by an agreement between the Vatican and the Italian Olympic Committee, to enable possible participation at international sporting tournaments such as the Summer Olympics and Mediterranean Games. Plans to compete at the 2021 Games of the Small States of Europe were halted although the federation was later invited by the Organizing Committee of the 2022 Mediterranean Games to send a guest delegation. There, Carnicelli competed in the women's half marathon and unofficially placed ninth in the event.
Background
Vatican City and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) had an agreement to set up an official athletics team to allow the nation be possibly represented in international sporting competitions such as the Summer Olympics and Mediterranean Games.[1] Prior to this, delegations from Vatican City were present at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2018 Winter Olympics as observers.[2]Vatican Athletics was later established on 10 January 2019 through the agreement, with initial accredited members that included Swiss Guards, nuns, priests, museum workers, and maintenance workers, as well as two migrant Muslim Africans as honorary members.[1] Although not affiliated with World Athletics,[3] the organization is affiliated with the Italian Athletics Federation. It is the first sports team to have legal status and is the first official sporting association within the nation.[1][4]
The 2021 Mediterranean Games were originally scheduled to take place from 25 June to 5 July 2021 in Oran, Algeria, but were rescheduled to 25 June to 5 July 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] This edition of the Games marked the Vatican City's first appearance at the Mediterranean Games and the first time the nation competed at a multi-sport event, albeit as a guest team.[13] 26 regular scoring teams were present at the Games.[14]
Delegation
A guest delegation representing Vatican City through Vatican Athletics was invited by the Organizing Committee of the 2022 Mediterranean Games, a decision supported by the president of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games, Davide Tizzano.[13] To compete as a member of Vatican Athletics, athletes had to either be: citizens of the nation, priests or seminarians directly connected to the nation, an employee, or the relative of an employee working inside of the nation.[15][16]
Italian runners Simone Adamoli, the son of an employee at the Governor's Palace,[9] and Sara Carnicelli, the daughter of an administrative employee,[a] were initially entered as the two athletes of the team.[13] Adamoli and Carnicelli previously represented the nation, competing at different editions of the Championships of the Small States of Europe. The former competed in the 400 metres at the 2021 Championships of the Small States of Europe,[9] and the latter in the 5000 metres at the 2022 Championships of the Small States of Europe. Adamoli did not earn a podium finish in his event[b][19] though Carnicelli became the first international medalist for the nation when she won a bronze medal. However, because of an agreement with European Athletics and the Athletic Association of Small States of Europe, she had to give the bronze medal to Roberta Schembri of Malta, who finished in fourth place; she was then awarded an honorary medal.[17]
The half marathon events were held on an urban racing circuit leading up to Miloud Hadefi Stadium, the main venue of the athletics events at the Games.[22] Carnicelli competed in her event at 8:00 a.m. on 30 June against twelve other athletes. She finished with a time of 1:17:21, though her result was not officially recorded, as the nation was invited as a non-scoring competitor. Had the nation been an official participant, she would have placed ninth overall.[13]Giovanna Epis of Italy won the gold medal in the event in a time of 1:13:47.[23]
Key
Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
In an interview after the Games with Matt Nelsen of Infobae, de Toca commented on the possibility of the nation's integration towards the Olympic Movement and likened it to the Holy See's status in the United Nations as a permanent observer state. He further stated that the nation's goal was to participate in international sport with "some significance" outside of competitive play.[24]
After Carnicelli competed at the Games, she continued to represent Vatican Athletics until she transferred to the athletics club Imperiali Atletica in 2024.[25] Vatican City was once again represented by Vatican Athletics, competing at the 2024 Championships of the Small States of Europe in a non-scoring manner.[26] There, hurdler Giuseppe Zapparata unofficially placed third in the men's 110 metres hurdles.[27]
As of 23 August 2025, the 26 regular scoring teams that competed at the 2022 Games were set to compete at the 2026 Mediterranean Games,[28] though Vatican Athletics had announced a possible participation at the Games through the Holy See Press Office in 2019.[29]
↑Athletes representing Vatican City are listed as their original nationality on World Athletics. In this case, Adamoli is listed as Italian in the official results of the Championships.[19]
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