Italy's sport is in excellent health,
proof of the high quality of national teams, Italian President
Sergio Mattarella said Monday during a ceremony with Italian
Olympian and Paralympian athletes who took part in the Summer
Games in Paris.
The president added that Italy did "even better" than at the
2020 Tokyo Olympics and "it was difficult".
Mattarella went on to thank high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, who
won a gold medal in Tokyo and participated in the Paris games
despite a renal colic, and Ambra Sabatini, a Paralympic Tokyo
champion who missed out on the podium after a fall, saying they
had conquered medals with "their generous participation and
everybody's affection".
The president on Monday hosted a ceremony to congratulate the
athletes who won a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics as well as
those who missed out on a podium spot and ranked fourth.
Mattarella stressed that their presence "alongside those who
experienced the emotion of a medal" was important not only
because they represented all the athletes who participated in
the Games" but also as representatives of "the great solidity of
our sports movement" because medals are not only conquered by
"single, isolated champions".
After complimenting the athletes, Mattarella, who was handed
back the Italian flag, said: "And now, Milano-Cortina!", where
the 2026 Winter Games will be held.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
