MILANO (ITALPRESS) – On the date on which the International Day of People with Disabilities is celebrated, on December 3, the Terrace Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia hosted “Towards Paralympic Excellence”, an event organized by the Consulate General of the United States in Milan, in collaboration with the Lombardy Region and with the support of Lilly, official sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of Milan Cortina 2026. To present the evening Sunil Ravi, coordinator for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milan Cortina 2026. The U.S. Consul General, Douglass R. Benning and the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana. After the announcement at the end of October of the partnership between Lilly and Milan Cortina 2026, the US pharmaceutical company relaunches its commitment to promoting a culture focused on wellness and health through sport. In conjunction with the event, in fact, Lilly will carry out initiatives aimed at raising awareness among citizens, communities and young generations on the importance of prevention and early intervention in chronic diseases. “Today we have 2 billion dollars of agreements with Italian companies, and most are Lombard companies. This is also due to the collaboration with the Consulate, which allowed us to bring our great value heritage here in Italy”, said Federico Villa, Associate Vice President Corporate Affairs & Patient Access Italy Hub of Lilly Italy, during his intervention. Inspiring progress, celebrating human potential and contributing to a healthier world is the vision shared by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. With the focus on paralympic sport, the meeting allowed us to collect and share the values that make it unique: inclusion, courage and ability to imagine new possibilities. As evidence of this approach to life, Davide Bendotti, an Italian Paralympic athlete, has already represented Italy at the 2018 Pyeongchang and Beijing 2022 Games, specializing in the Super G, and Martina Caironi Ambassador of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. “The trait that defines me is definitely resilience – said Bendotti. The falls are around the corner, but the important thing is to get up. I have never heard myself: family and team have been for me fundamental presences.” “It is our task, too, of the Fondazione Milano Cortina, to give dignity to paralimpiadi – added Caironi -. We are often ourselves imposing a limit, however also the place and society in which we live can have a partial look. Behind the pure agonistic activity there is also a technological revolution. We must go beyond the first glance.” And with the word “look” the panel moderated by Mario Melazzini, General Manager Welfare, Lombardy Region ended.“Life is a question of looks: depends on what we want to see. Anyone in an unfavorable environment can be a person with disabilities – he emphasized -. Then the question of looking, not about disability but about the skill that allows you to continue doing. It serves integration, sometimes it is only a question of cultural barrier, in which the mind plays a fundamental role.” The guest interventions at the evening alternated with short videos from the 2020 Netflix documentary entitled “Rising Phoenix”, in which nine Paralympic athletes tell their stories of rebirth through agonistic activity. At the end of the evening the video of the USA team with the slogan “United as a team” highlighted the desire to be united in promoting a sport suitable for all skills.
– photo Italpress – (ITALPRESS).
