W1st AIBA European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament was held from February 25 – March 1, 2008 in Roseto degli Abruzzi-Pescara, Italy. During the tournament 250 boxers from 40 countries competed for 26 Olympic qualifying places in 11 different weight categories.
WThe 2008 Giro d'Italia was the 91st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in Palermo on 10 May and ended in Milan on 1 June. Twenty-two teams entered the race, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Contador of the Astana cycling team. Second and third respectively were Italians Riccardo Riccò and Marzio Bruseghin.
WThe 2008 Giro di Lombardia was the 102nd edition of this single-day road bicycle racing monument race. The event took place on 18 October 2008, with Damiano Cunego winning it, his fourth victory of the year, and the third of his career in the Giro di Lombardia and his second consecutive victory. Cunego managed to break away from the peloton with 15 kilometres on the descent of the Civiglio and was able to resist the chase of the peloton to win alone on the waterfront of Como. Janez Brajkovič of Astana finished 24 seconds behind, followed by Rigoberto Urán of Caisse d'Epargne.
WItaly sent a delegation of 86 athletes and 6 guides to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. Italian competitors took part in 12 sports: athletics, rowing, cycling, judo, swimming, wheelchair fencing, equestrian, wheelchair tennis, shooting, archery, table tennis and sailing.
WThe 2008 European Road Championships were held in Stresa, Pettenasco, Arona and Verbania, in the province of Novare and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy, between July 3 and July 6, 2008. Regulated by the European Cycling Union. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men and women under 23 and juniors.
WThe 2008 Monte Paschi Eroica was the second edition of the Monte Paschi Eroica, later named Strade Bianche, held on 8 March 2008. It is a professional road bicycle race in Tuscany, Italy, starting in Gaiole in Chianti and finishing in Siena. The race was 181 km, including seven sectors of strade bianche, totaling 56,1 km of gravel road.
WItaly competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China. The country sent a delegation of 344 athletes to compete.
WThe 2008 UCI Road World Championships took place in Varese, Italy, between September 23 and September 28, 2008. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23.