CONI USA [2], the Italian National Olympic Committee in the USA, is launching the Third Photo & Video Contest for Italian youth, age 6 through 15 for: a) best digital photo, and b) best 1 minute digital video clip.

Participation is open to all kids who have at least one parent who is an Italian citizen with residency in the USA or who have at least one out of four great-grandparents who is or was an Italian citizen.  The competition opened on Sunday, November 6, the day of the New York City Marathon [3].

Entries must be submitted by midnight, Monday, November 28. Semifinalists are notified Thursday, December 1. Application forms are found on www.coniusa.com, starting Monday, November 7. The content of the photo or video must represent an "action movement" photographed during a sport or game event, professional or amateur, as a self portrait, or with one or more friends and/or family members. Any kind of active movement qualifies as content, but it must be treated "creatively" to have a greater appreciation by the judges of the contest.

Only cameras with a market value of less than $ 500 may be used. Entries created with mobile phones do qualify. It is mandatory to describe on the registration form what kind of camera was used, the date and place where the photo or video was taken and the location. Any space or opportunity for adequate sport activity of game play can be used: a backyard barbecue, a birthday party, the school gym, an athletic field, a public park, a swimming pool, a local marathon...

Parents or legal guardians of participating kids must agree in writing to the use of pictures or video by Coni USA (as indicated in the registration form). No registration will be accepted without compliance with this rule and other rules. A jury of media professionals will select 5 semifinalists for each age group who will be notified on December 1. Medals will be awarded to First, Second and Third place in each age group. All semifinalists will be given a Certificate of Participation. Those in attendance will also be given an official Coni USA cap and a shirt with a Coni USA logo on it.

The Awards Ceremony will be held in New York City, on Thursday, December 15, starting at 5:00 pm, at the Consulate General of Italy [4], 690 Park Avenue, New York, NY. It will take place at the annual "Christmas Action Party" during which all participants, photo and video contest semifinalists and other kids who are only attending the Party, will compete-for-fun in some “action” game (rope jumping, “golfino” putting, ring and bean bag tossing, birilli, hula hoop...)

The “Ready, set...action!” Awards Ceremony and the “Christmas Action Party” are held under the Auspices of Minister Natalia Quintavalle, Consul General of Italy in New York with the generous support and assistance of la Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi [5], The Institute for the Italian American Experience, la Coni USA Alumni, Families and Friends Association, America Oggi [6] newspaper, i-Italy web magazine and other organizations (list in formation...)

The semifinalists of the contest "Ready, Set...Action!" that are 11 to 13 years old in 2012 are automatically entered in the finals of the national tryouts organized by Coni USA next spring to select the team in track & field and swimming that will travel to Italy in June to participate (international travel, local room and board expenses paid for by Coni USA) to the "Olympics of the Province of Salerno" (Region of Campania [7]) that will take place in the historic town of Paestum.