The Giro d'Italia at the Embassy in Washington with two champions

(ANSA) - WASHINGTON, 10 SET - Italy's ambassador to the US, Mariangela Zappia, hosted the event 'The Giro d'Italia and the endless discovery of Italy' today at the diplomatic headquarters, as part of the initiatives of the Italian Embassy in Washington on the occasion of the first Day of Italian Sport in the World promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. An initiative that follows the 'DC Bike Ride' cycling event last 7 September, in which a large group of diplomats, officials and representatives of the Italian and Italo-American community in Washington took part, carrying the Italian flag through the streets of the American capital. "For the Italian government, sports diplomacy is a priority, a tool to promote dialogue and international cooperation," said the ambassador, pointing out that "we chose to dedicate this day to cycling and the Giro d'Italia because they are extraordinary ambassadors of Italy and its beauty in the world. Today's event was animated by Italian-American influencer Tony Polcari ('Tony P') in conversation with Olympic champion Paolo Bettini and the winner of the last Giro d'Italia Elisa Longo Borghini, who shared their experiences. Their testimonies were complemented by that of Paralympic athlete Diego Gastaldi, who in a video message presented to the US public the documentary 'Giro Express' with a selection of the most representative places of the 2024 edition of the Giro d'Italia, an iconic sporting event that is becoming increasingly well-known throughout the world and represents a testimonial of our country and the richness of its territories. Among the guests were Italian students from some of the capital's schools and a delegation from Special Olympics International. In 2025, Turin will host the next edition of the Special Olympics Winter World Games, a sporting event capable of promoting social inclusion through the involvement, in the same team, of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. The Embassy of Italy in Washington, in collaboration with Giro d'Italia, Castelli and Bkool, will launch tomorrow the competition "Win a trip to the Giro d'Italia" aimed at American cycling enthusiasts, who can share photos and videos of their cycling experiences inspired by Italy through social media. Up for grabs, as first prize, is a trip to Italy to attend two stages of the next Giro d'Italia.