President Sergio Mattarella told
Italian athlete on a visit to the Paralympics Village Thursday
that "your presence here, so numerous and qualified, is already
an important goal, and I thank you for being here to represent
Italy."
He stressed: "it is important what you do, your message to the
world".
The athletes presented the Head of State, accompanied by the
President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli,
with an Olympic torch.
The Olympic appointment "has two times, the Olympics and the
Paralympics," said the head of State.
"In the first there is the enthusiasm, in the second there is
the collection, the conclusions.
"Every four years, athletes from all over the world offer
special, precious, indispensable moments to humanity,"
Mattarella continued.
"In this particular period of history, it is of increased
importance to emphasise how important it is to make knowledge,
dialogue, collaboration and not opposition, or even clashes and
wars, prevail."
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