Maurizio Martolini

Maurizio Martolini was an Italian basketball referee and sports manager at the international level. After a youthful love for athletics, he turned his passion towards basketball, a sport he had played during his high school years. He became a national referee in 1963 and made his début in the Top Italian League in November 1969. In 18 years of activity through 1987, he officiated 448 games, including eight finals for the Italian title and two Italian Cup finals.

Martolini became an international referee in 1973. He officiated at the 1980 Moskva Olympics, five European Cup finals and various events both for men (three European Championships) and women (two World Championships). He left refereeing after 24 years in September 1987 and later assumed various positions as manager, including serving as President of the Referee Committee from 1992-97.

From 1987 to 2002 Martolini was commissioner of the international federation. In his refereeing career he was awarded numerous prizes: the CONI Golden Star for Sporting Merit in 2006, two Martiradonna Awards (1980, 1986), ANAIB Awards (1980, 1984-85), and the Reverberi Award (1986-87). Martolini was inducted posthumously into the Italy Basket Hall of Fame in 2010, having died in Roma in 2007, struck down by an incurable disease.