Alberto, Conte Bonacossa

Alberto Bonacossa was a prominent figure in Italian sports, as a competitor, judge, author, journalist, organiser, and administrator. He was one of the early proponents of tennis in Italy, the sport in which he also took part in the Olympics. In 1914, he published the tennis manual “Il Tennis”, which proved a very popular book. President of the Milan Tennis Club, he set up the Italian Open Championships in 1930, presently known as the Rome Masters. He also won the Italian doubles title twice, in 1937 and 1939, and was captain of the Italian Davis Cup team.

Bonacossa was also an avid skater, winning ten Italian figure skating championships individually, and three more with his wife Marisa in the pairs event. His wife won seven individual titles herself in the 1920s. In 1926, Bonacossa founded the Italian Ice Sports Federation (FISG), which combined the ice skating, ice hockey and bobsled federations of Italy - all of which had been founded and presided by Bonacossa. He also was the first president of the FISG, although only until 1927. In addition, Bonacossa was involved in various international and national organizations for motorcycling, auto racing, alpine skiing. He also worked as an editor for the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

A member of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) since 1912, Bonacossa was admitted as a member of the IOC in 1925, and became a member of the Executive Committee in 1935. In 1943, he briefly served as the president of CONI. After his death in 1953, CONI founded the Trofeo Alberto Bonacossa, which was then accepted by the IOC as an award for the National Olympic Comittee best serving the development of the Olympic Movement. It was discontinued after 1971.