The President Napolitano entrusts the Italian tricolour flag to Zoeggeler and Chiarotti. “Sporting symbol of young and victorious Italy”
The President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano - 50 days to the XXII edition of the Winter Olympic Games - has entrusted the Italian flag to the Olympic flag bearer, the luger medallist Armin Zoeggeler, and to the Paralympic athlete Andrea Chiarotti. The azzurra delegation, guided by the President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, the General Secretary, Roberto Fabbricini, the President of the Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli, and the General Secretary, Marco Giunio De Sanctis, has been received by Napolitano with the presence of the Minister of Regional Affairs, Autonomies and Sport, Graziano Delrio, in the Banquet Hall. “In you both I see the image of a young and competitive Italy and a sign of unity”. The President Malagò had opened the ceremony expressing the gratefulness of sport to the Head of State. “It is an honour to be here, in the house of the Italians, all together, Olympic and Paralympic champions, because the strength of sport is unity. We cannot guarantee sure victories but we promise that sport is ready to give joy and emotion still to Italy”.
The Paralympic President, Luca Pancalli, has emphasised the concept. “Sport is an unique big family that has succeeded in pulling down differences”.
The assignment of the tricolour to the two flag bearers has been the prelude to the participation of the Minister Delrio. “We are aware, as government, of the importance of sport, of the grassroots movement which all professionals look to with great attention. Sochi can help create a strong sense of national identity”.
The President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, closed the ceremony with an affectionate speech. “You are the pride of Italy, be full of patriotic spirit. You must win for Italy and bring honour and prestige to the nation”. The ceremony was attended by the members of the CIO Franco Carraro, Mario Pescante, Ottavio Cinquanta and Manuela Di Centa, the Deputy Vice president of the CONI Gianni Scarso, the members of the CONI National Board: Giancarlo Abete, Sergio Anesi, Paolo Barelli, Franco Chimenti, Fabio Pigozzi, Alessandra Sensini, Fiona May, Valentina Turisini, Fabio Sturani, Guglielmo Talento, Massimo Achini, the Chairman of the Board of Auditors, Alberto De Nigro, the CONI Vice Secretary Carlo Mornati, the President and the general executive manager of the Coni Servizi, Franco Chimenti and Alberto Miglietta, with the General Manager Michele Uva, besides the maximum representatives of the Armed Forces.
Below other azzurri attendees at the Quirinale (The Italian presidential palace):
The assignment of the tricolour to the two flag bearers has been the prelude to the participation of the Minister Delrio. “We are aware, as government, of the importance of sport, of the grassroots movement which all professionals look to with great attention. Sochi can help create a strong sense of national identity”.
The President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, closed the ceremony with an affectionate speech. “You are the pride of Italy, be full of patriotic spirit. You must win for Italy and bring honour and prestige to the nation”. The ceremony was attended by the members of the CIO Franco Carraro, Mario Pescante, Ottavio Cinquanta and Manuela Di Centa, the Deputy Vice president of the CONI Gianni Scarso, the members of the CONI National Board: Giancarlo Abete, Sergio Anesi, Paolo Barelli, Franco Chimenti, Fabio Pigozzi, Alessandra Sensini, Fiona May, Valentina Turisini, Fabio Sturani, Guglielmo Talento, Massimo Achini, the Chairman of the Board of Auditors, Alberto De Nigro, the CONI Vice Secretary Carlo Mornati, the President and the general executive manager of the Coni Servizi, Franco Chimenti and Alberto Miglietta, with the General Manager Michele Uva, besides the maximum representatives of the Armed Forces.
Below other azzurri attendees at the Quirinale (The Italian presidential palace):
Winter Sports Italian Federation: Maurizio Oioli, Simone Fontana. Italian Federation of Ice Sports: Carolina Kostner, Valentina Marchei, Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte, Stefania Berton and Ondrej Hotarek, Francesca Lollobrigida, Matteo Anesi, Mirko Giacomo Nenzi, Andrea Giovannini, David Bosa, Cecilia Maffei, Arianna Fontana, Arianna Valcepina, Martina Valcepina, Elena Viviani, Yuri Confortola, Tommaso Dotti.
Italian Paralympic Committee: Andrea Chiarotti, Florian Planker, Gianluigi Rosa (Ice Sledge Hockey), Melania Corradini, Alessandro Daldoss, la guida Luca Negrini (Sci Alpino), Francesca Porcellato, Enzo Masiello (Sci Nordico), Giuseppe Comunale (Snowboard)
Italian Paralympic Committee: Andrea Chiarotti, Florian Planker, Gianluigi Rosa (Ice Sledge Hockey), Melania Corradini, Alessandro Daldoss, la guida Luca Negrini (Sci Alpino), Francesca Porcellato, Enzo Masiello (Sci Nordico), Giuseppe Comunale (Snowboard)