The president of the Republic Sergio Mattarella welcomed the Italian athletes who will participate in the Paris Olympic Games to the Quirinale, for the delivery of the tricolor flag that will be paraded in the opening ceremony of the Olympics and Paralympics.
The delivery ceremony, in the Quirinale gardens, began at 11, but the delegation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, led by CONI president Giovanni Malagò, arrived at 9.45. The flag was handed over by the Head of State to the blue standard bearers, Gianmarco Tamberi And Arianna Errigoofficially designated as the Italy Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and to the athletes Luca Mazzone And Ambra Sabatinias flag bearers for Italy at the Paralympics.
Among those present there is also the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi. At the beginning of the ceremony, Mattarella shook hands one by one with the athletes present, including Tamberi, Errigo and Jacobs, before greeting the sports managers. A group photo of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, with all the athletes who went up to the Quirinale concluded the ceremony. Then the head of state willingly took dozens of selfies with the athletes, demonstrating the affection he receives among athletes. He chatted with many of them, confirming his bond with the world of sport and for those who represent Italy
“The United Nations Assembly has asked for an Olympic truce, on the model of ancient Greece: not if this will happen because it clashes with the obtuseness of those who started war who wanted it, but the message you will send in Paris is a of coexistence, friendship and cooperation”, said Mattarella.
“I don’t make predictions but I am sure that you will dedicate all your efforts to sporting loyalty, respecting your opponents, your competitors and you will do all this with loyalty and this will be your first victory. Then of course I hope to see a bus full of medalists, but it will be your behavior that will honor Italy”, continued the head of state, addressing the athletes and managers.
“In Paris we not only want to, but we can also beat the record of Tokyo. We want to remain in the world top ten and remain the first nation in Europe,” he declared Malagòadding that “the Italian model is multidisciplinary, and for many in the world it is an object of study, an example”.
Malagò also thanked Mattarella for his presence at the European Athletics Championships: “He gave us two wonderful evenings at the Olimpico which the athletes honored like never before”. He then highlighted the value of Mattarella’s announced presence also in Paris: “His presence at the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, on 16 July, makes us proud, as did his presence the day before at the inauguration of Casa Italia”. “We hope – added Malago ‘- that he can carve out a small space of his time to attend the first day of competitions”.
“We have big goals, we promise excitement,” he said Luca Pancalli, president of the Paralympic Committee. “For us it will be a record edition in terms of numbers and expectations – he added – We have very high sporting objectives, but there will also be great emotions. We hope, President, to make you proud and make you smile as you did at the Olimpico, for the European Championships in athletics. In Paris we want to write another formidable page of excellence for Italian sport.”
For the minister Andrea Abodi “the flag will not be a burden but a symbol of support and closeness of an entire country. Paris will be an edition of the Games that returns with the public, but we must not forget what happened – he continued – And also the first edition after entry of sport into the Constitution. These athletes are the maximum consecration of that statement. The emotions they will give us will be important for everyone but especially for young people.”
The standard bearer in tears Arianna Errigo after receiving the tricolour: “Being here is an immense emotion. When I found out I couldn’t sleep and with two children it’s not easy. Becoming a mother has made my life difficult to fit everything together, between children and training. But I believed I could do it and now here I am. I feel like a more mature athlete and a happier mother.”
Excited too Gianmarco Tamberi: “Thank you President for being at our side at the European Championships, which were record-breaking for Italy. When I was going out at 2.29m you must have trembled and I with you, but I knew I couldn’t not win the gold”, he said while addressing the head of state during the ceremony. “I dream of carrying the flag of the most united country in the world. Receiving the tricolor from you is an unimaginable honor. we are ambassadors of perseverance and will – he continued – I give you my word that we will do everything to surprise you and make you and everyone proud the Italians, always fighting to the end. I promise you that we will never be crushed by the fear of not making it.”
“I would like to thank with all my heart my beloved wife, who by standing by my side for 15 years has allowed me to be what I am today: the standard-bearer of the Italian national team”, continued Tamberi. “The women and men we choose to have alongside us on the journey called life can make us better – he said speaking of Chiara Bontempi – And today, looking in the mirror, I say that without her I would never have been up to this role”
“I am at my sixth Olympics but now being a standard bearer honors me and fills me with pride. I hope that we will return here, after the Paralympics, with a bus full of medals”, said the blue paralympic standard bearer Luca Mazzone after the delivery of the flag. “Sport has given me and has given us many opportunities. Finally, I want to thank two women, my mother when I was swimming as a boy and my wife who follows me now and always worries about me” added Mazzone.
“I am here with great pride and emotion to receive the flag that I will carry at the Paralympics and first of all I want to thank you for thinking of me”, she finally said, moved, Ambra Sabatini flag bearer for Italy at the next Paris Games. “Like all the Italians, I will give everything to be up to par. I take advantage of this solemn occasion – he added – also to send a message, saying that sport is the only place in the world where will and emotion go hand in hand “.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
