MILAN (ITALPRESS) – “Do you remember the incredible atmosphere of Paris 2024? Here, in Italy, in a month, I expect something like this. You Italians put a unique passion in sport and your mountains will be a beautiful backdrop. Winter disciplines are born on the European peaks. It will be an Olympic edition from which to learn a lot.” Kirsty Coventry, president of the Cio, interviewed by Corriere della Sera just over a month from the inaugural ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. “We enter a different phase: the new normality is that of the Games scattered on the territory. The data we collect in Italy, hearing the stakeholders, will direct us for the future. If there will be corrections, of course, we will.” Two cities, Milan and Cortina, two ceremonies, two braziers. “The Organizing Committee, in this, had absolute freedom. From my point of view, I am grateful that there is a ceremony for athletes also in Cortina: smaller, with low costs, but able to make everyone participate in the great feast, knowing that the heart of the inauguration will be Milan. As a former athlete, I say: it is important that the Olympic spirit live it all. It is in Italy’s right to decide how to propose its symbols and culture to the world,” said the 42-year-old leader of Harare, twice the Olympic champion in the 200 back.
On the issue of the bob, which in the end remained in Cortina with the requalification of the Monti track, added: “The Cio had asked that a new plant was not built. It applies as a recommendation, then the country has the right to move as it wishes. The Monti track will be one of the legacy of Olimpiade. The test events show that you have worked well.” And on the four Italian flag holders, Coventry states that the Cio was not surprised by this idea. “Our demand was gender equality introduced in Tokyo 2020: a man and a woman. Two Alfieri in Milan and two in Cortina have a good idea. The more athletes get involved, the better. I have been a flag holder of Zimbabwe twice: it is an experience that I remember with great pride”. On 19 November the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution on the Olympic Truce for Milan-Cortina: do you think it will be respected? Do you have an open communication channel with Putin and Netanyahu presidents? “The channel is open with the Olympic Committees of Russia and Israel” concludes the number one of the Cio, confirming the participation of neutral athletes individually.
– photos of repertoire IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
