Ambra Sabatini, gold medalist in the 100 meter T63 at Tokyo 2020, and Luca Mazzone, three-time Paralympic gold medalist in cycling between Rio 2016 and Tokyo, will be Italy’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics, on 28 August in Paris. This was decided by the board of the Italian Paralympic Committee on the proposal of its president, Luca Pancalli.
“I don’t even know where to start.” It’s an irrepressible emotion with which Ambra Sabatinigold medalist in the 100 at the Tokyo Paralympics, welcomes the news of the designation as Italian flag-bearer for Paris: “This morning I received a phone call that overwhelmed me with emotion. I will be the flag-bearer at the Paris Paralympics. Just saying it out loud makes me beat very strong heart, I’m very honored to be able to take on this role. It’s a dream I’ve always had, doing it this year is a great honor”, Sabatini’s words, entrusted to a video message.
“I would like to thank President Pancalli and the Paralympic Committee for believing in me – adds Sabatini – I will do my best to carry out this very important task as best as possible and to raise the tricolor once again. A big thumbs up good luck to my Olympic colleagues and my fellow flag bearer. See you in Paris.”
ANSA Agency Sabatini, the golden girl of Paralympic speed – News – Ansa.it The victory in Tokyo on the 100 T63 with the world record (ANSA)“It is an honor that I would never have thought of and which repays me for many years of sporting activity”: like this Luca Mazzone, three golds and three silvers at the Paralympics, welcomes the news of the designation as Italian flag-bearer at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, with Ambra Sabatini. “I hope that my story is an example for many kids”, adds Mazzone.
“I thank the Italian Paralympic Committee for the decision – underlines Mazzone -. The fact that it was president Luca Pancalli who proposed my name makes me even more proud. I started playing sports thanks to him. In 1996, watching TV , the news of one of his sporting achievements struck me. The desire to emulate him stirred that something within me that first brought me to the swimming pool and then to Paralympic cycling.”
“I also thank the Italian cycling federation which has allowed me, in recent years, to realize that dream and those ambitions – the conclusion of the blue standard-bearer -. I hope that my history and my successes can represent an example, as Pancalli was for me , helping to get many boys and girls out of the house to play sports.”
ANSA Agency Mazzone, the man of records on two wheels – News – Ansa.it First swimming, then between Rio and Tokyo three golds and three silvers in cycling (ANSA)“Two protagonists of Italian and world Paralympic sport who best represent a team with important ambitions and great talent. Two names that are the expression of as many of the most medal-winning disciplines on the Italian scene, two sporting paths that represent two different generations of champions. They are certain that both will be able to best convey the values of our movement, representing an example for many people and many young people with disabilities who decide to start practicing a sporting discipline”. Thus the president of CIP, Luca Pancallimotivates the choice of Ambra Sabatini and Luca Mazzone, Italy’s standard-bearers at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
“Ambra, very young, despite having only appeared on the international stage for a few years, is already one of the greatest paralympic athletics champions in history and represents not only the present but also the future of the paralympic movement, as well as an example of redemption for many young people – continues Pancalli -. Luca, with his five participations in the Paralympic Games, the 3 golds and 5 silvers won, is one of the flags of Italian and world paralympism”, he concludes.
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