24 January 2012: The UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) is leading an information campaign on conserving water, called “The Future We Want: Drop by Drop.” The campaign invites Europeans to inspire others to save water, and Italy’s water polo team, the azzurri (blues), has recently become a representative for the campaign. The campaign has been run for the last three years, and this year focuses on the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

UNRIC Director Afsané Bassir-Pour noted that people with easy access to water “tend to waste it.” Italy’s delegate, Lorenzo Ravina, said the Italian Swimming Federation was a long-time supporter of water conservation, and the team’s coach, Sandro Campagna, added, “Water is our natural element. It is our duty to contribute to highlight the principles disciplining its preservation.”

The azzuri currently hold the world title in water polo. They accepted their new role in UNRIC’s campaign in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, during the 2012 Waterpolo European Championships. [UN Press Release] [Rio+20 News]