Note that reserves in athletics (alternate) are not counted: One Italian archer qualified for the men's individual recurve by reaching the quarterfinal stage and obtaining one of the four available spots at the 2019 World Archery Championships in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

[12] Another Italian archer secured a spot in the women's individual recurve by winning the mixed team title at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus.

[13] Meanwhile, three Italian archers qualified for the women's events by securing the last of three quota places available in the team recurve at the 2021 WA Final Qualification Tournament in Paris, France.

[14] Italy fielded a squad of eight artistic swimmers to compete in both the women's team and duet routine the 2021 FINA Olympic Qualification Tournament in Barcelona, Spain.

[26] The slalom canoeists, highlighted by Rio 2016 Olympians Giovanni De Gennaro and Stefanie Horn were named to the Italian roster for the Games on 22 June 2021.

Italy fielded a squad of three equestrian riders into the Olympic team eventing competition by securing an outright berth as one of the two top-ranked nations, not yet qualified, at the 2019 European Championships (for Groups A and B) in Luhmühlen, Germany.

The women's squad finished fifth out of nine nations eligible for qualification in the team all-around to assure its Olympic berth at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

On the men's side, Rio 2016 Olympian Ludovico Edalli and rookie Marco Lodadio booked their spots in the individual all-around and apparatus events at the same tournament, with the latter bagging the silver medal in the rings exercise.

[44][45] Meanwhile, Silvia Semeraro finished second in the final pool round to secure a spot in the women's kumite +61-kg category at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Paris, France.

[51][52] On 19 February 2021, the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) nominated three crews to compete in the rescheduled Tokyo 2020, including Rio 2016 Olympians Silvia Zennaro (women's Laser Radial) and 2018 world champion Ruggero Tita, along with his rookie partner Caterina Banti, in the mixed Nacra 17 catamaran.

[54] M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race Italian shooters achieved quota places for the following events by virtue of their best finishes at the 2018 ISSF World Championships, the 2019 ISSF World Cup series, European Championships or Games, and European Qualifying Tournament, as long as they obtained a minimum qualifying score (MQS) by 31 May 2020.

[56] The rifle and pistol shooters were added to the Italian roster on 11 June 2021, with Marco de Nicolo aiming to collect a single medal at his sixth straight Games.

Ivan Federico and Alessandro Mazzara were automatically selected among the top 16 eligible skateboarders based on the World Skate Olympic Rankings of 30 June 2021.

Ludovico Fossali qualified directly for the men's combined event, by advancing to the final and securing one of the seven provisional berths at the 2019 IFSC World Championships in Hachioji, Japan.

[61] On the women's side, 18-year-old Laura Rogora finished in the top six of those eligible for qualification at the IFSC World Olympic Qualifying Event in Toulouse, France, earning a quota place and joining with Fossali on the Italian roster.

[62][63] The third and final slot was awarded to Michael Piccolruaz, after accepting an unused berth, as the next highest-ranked sport climber vying for qualification on the men's side at the Worlds.

Debora Vivarelli was automatically selected among the top ten table tennis players vying for qualification in the women's singles based on the ITTF Olympic Rankings of 1 June 2021.

Vito Dell'Aquila qualified directly for the men's flyweight category (58 kg) by finishing among the top five taekwondo practitioners at the end of the WT Olympic Rankings.

Meanwhile, 2019 world champion Simone Alessio scored a semifinal victory in the men's welterweight category (80 kg) to book the remaining spot on the Italian taekwondo squad at the 2021 European Qualification Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

[73] Italy qualified five triathletes (three men and two women) for the following events at the Games by winning the silver medal and securing the first of three available berths at the 2021 ITU Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

[75] Another slot was awarded to the Italian female beach volleyball pair by virtue of its top 15 placement in the FIVB Olympic Rankings of 13 June 2021.

Italy men's national water polo team qualified for the Olympics by advancing to the final match and securing an outright berth at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.