The Special Olympics took place at the “Walter Merlo” athletics school camp in Cuneo, where around one hundred athletes from all over Piedmont took part in exciting competitions. Emotions, great satisfaction and excellent results for the athletes who competed on the twenty sports disciplines planned, in view of the next national Play The Games which will be held in Busseto from 7 to 9 June.
For Amico Sport the following took the field: Sergio Balbis, Debora Bono, Samuele Borgna, Sara Borgogno, Patrik Costa, Marco Cravero, Mattia Culasso, Benedetta Daniele, Donatella Dardanelli, Cristina Ferrero, Daniele Garello, Alessio Marchiò, Vincenzo Pace, Stefano Panero, Francesco Perra, Fulvio Prono, Mara Rodengo, Giorgio Rosano, Sonia Sechi and Biancagiulia Tovoli, who brought home 15 gold, 16 silver, 13 bronze and numerous other medals supported by technicians, companions of the Amico Sport staff and volunteers who came in large numbers number coming from the “Grandis” Institute, the “De Amicis” High School and the Liceo
“Pellico Peano”, as well as some employees of Confindustria Cuneo.
“I would like to sincerely thank all those who worked tirelessly for the excellent success of the event – declares Cristina Bernardi, president of Amico Sport –: those who managed the rankings, those who followed our athletes on the field, those who worked for setting up and dismantling the competition fields and those who carried out the numerous collateral activities… every help was invaluable so that the event could take place in the best possible way. Thanks to the Piedmont Special Olympics Team and the Cuneo Special Olympics Team, who supported the organization of the event but, above all, special thanks go to the institutions and sponsors who allowed the Regional Games to take place, in particular: the Piedmont Region, the Province of Cuneo, CONI and Libertas Cuneo for their patronage of the event, the Municipality of Cuneo for their patronage and for the free concession of the school field where the Games were held and the sponsors for their support of the event.
“Special thanks to the 2nd Alpine Regiment of Cuneo, represented at the opening ceremony by Lieutenant Colonel Claudio Caramia, for the logistical support with the welcome in the ‘Ignazio Vian’ Barracks where the athletes, staff, families and companions had lunch, to the doctors and the Italian Red Cross – Cuneo Committee, who provided the health care service during the two days of the Games, to the competition judges and timekeepers who carried out their role with dedication, giving particular attention to the athletes. Finally, thanks to the Rotary Club of Cuneo for the generous support through the collection of donations which took place with the sale of the text ‘Nenè, welcome Ginevra’ written by Nives Forza, to Veruschka Verista and her collaborators, to Monica Da Ros and to Ignazio Genesio for having given us wonderful images with their photo shoots and, finally, to all the families who accompanied and supported all the athletes”.
But it didn’t end here. While the regional Games were taking place in Cuneo, the national swimming Play The Games were staged in Lignano Sabbiadoro, which involved the athletes Valerio Selleri, Antonio Ghigo, Giorgia Meriano, Simone Santini, Anna Lovera and Sara Lombardo, in her first away, accompanied by Sara Barral and Daniela Magnetto Allietta. The spoils achieved include 3 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze, 3 fourth places and two fifth places. Some testimonies from the athletes: “Thank God we did an excellent job at the races. I had a lot of fun. I always want to go away with Dani and Sara” – Valerio.
“The trip and the races went great! I would come back tomorrow, I had fun. Good volunteers” – Antonio.
“We had a lot of fun, it was very nice. The races went great, deep water, very good food (apart from the fish). Devastating pesto pasta. Sara and Dani are crazy” – Simone and Sara.
“I had fun, I won medals at the competitions, I’m happy. Very good volunteers, the best ever” – Anna.
“I refuse to speak, I don’t make statements. But Sara and Dani are beautiful and cute” – Giorgia angry.
Finally, the Special Basketball Games took place in Turin, hosted by the Pandha Torino team, in which Maria Luisa Piacenza, Paolo Ballatore, Silvano Revelli, Davide Caroti, Anthony Moletti, Daniele Galliano participated, accompanied by the coaches Katia Quebella and Daniele Civalleri. The Special Games are team courses at stations created to involve all the kids, even those who have more difficulty approaching a 5vs5 game dynamic on the pitch. Our athletes took home third place with a splendid execution of 5 skills. Dribbling, passing, shooting and the ability to play in a group are the basis of basketball and improve day by day, earning compliments from the organizing staff. A beautiful day of friendship and sport with many smiles and winners.
After this intense weekend the season is coming to an end, but the Amico Sport athletes will still be protagonists, before the summer break, at the Play The Games Special Olympics Italia 2024 which will be held in Busseto (PR) (Athletics), Fidenza (PR) ( Table Tennis and Badminton), Noceto (PR) (Rugby), Salsomaggiore (PR) (Bocce, Volleyball and Horse Riding) and La Spezia (Basketball).
