PM Letta in the Village, greetings and gifts to the azzurri. "They will be up to the task. The Government fully supports the bid for 2024"
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President Malagò spoke first. "It will be difficult to win medals but our conscience is clear, we have worked well, in full cooperation with the Federations. In the coming years we have to fill the gaps, including facilities, related to long-track skating and we will give our all. The new law will help in this regard. We are glad of the presence of Enrico Letta, he kept his word, showing his integrity and his feeling for us. A sign greatly appreciated, especially at international level. "
And he, the Prime Minister, answered questions too, feeding hopes for Sochi 2014, and reviving the dream of an Italian candidacy for the Games of 2024. "In the Village I have seen so many impressive faces, people who have sacrificed a lot to get to the Games. I am convinced that, whatever happens, they will do their best to represent our country with dignity. For us, sport is fundamental and that obviously includes winter sports. It means so much for what it gives to us. I could not miss an occasion like this. There is so much of system Italia in Sochi. There are some 50 companies that have worked on the Games, they are doing well and you glimpse the tricolour flag everywhere and that is important. I'm glad to be here, to have demonstrated the closeness of the country to the azzurri mission and to our businesses. I came here to represent those values that motivate our actions and I am convinced that this experience will be good for Russia, for the effects that it will produce. I have had many interesting encounters, including one with the IOC President, Thomas Bach. I made clear to him the intention of the Italian Government to support, with all the means necessary, a candidacy for the Olympics of 2024. It will be one of the commitments in the coming months although it must be carefully managed. I saw Shinzo Abe, my Japanese colleague, and I invited him to Italy. They have been awarded the Games in 2020 and I will talk with him about it. He will probably be in Rome in May and that is an important staging post along the path we are following. Naturally, we will not seek to copy the costs and the concept of Sochi. We will do what is within our reach. "