ATENE (GRECIA) (ITALPRESS) – The Olympic flame returns to Italy. Twenty years after Turin 2006, the five-round symbol illuminates our country with the universal meaning it loves, marking a fundamental passage in the countdown towards Milan Cortina 2026. The Olympic flame delivery ceremony was hosted at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, Greece: the solemn marbles of the elliptical system – custodians of the tradition of the Olympic Games and the founding message that count them – have made from background to the ritual passage from the torch in the hands of the president of the MICO Foundation 2026, Giovanni Malagò. The president of the Coni, Luciano Buonfiglio, together with the secretary general, Carlo Mornati and vice-president, Diana Bianchedi, participated in the event, which they attended – among others – the mayors of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, and Cortina, Gianluca Lorenzi, and the Italian ambassador in Greece, the Italian ambassador to Athens Paolo Cuculi. The arrival of the torch in the stadium was enhanced by the presence of two exceptional tedophorae, the Olympic tricolors Jasmine Paolini (Tennis) and Filippo Ganna (Cyclism). The ignition ceremony was honored by Stefania Belmondo (Sci di Fondo) and Armin Zoeggeler (Slittino).
The ceremony was opened with the screening of the show of the team of “Gymnastics for All – Wolves Team”, with choreography of Olimpia Dragouni, flanked by the Greek singer Klavdia. Subsequently it was the performance of the choir of the Italian School of Athens, in collaboration with the company Tam Ballet in Milan, with the participation of 100 young dancers, to train the present, anticipating the formal contents of the appointment. The Great Priestess Mary Mina lit the last torch to pass it into the hands of the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Isidoros Kouvelos. The number one of Greek sport, after stressing the importance of this moment that is renewed in the years consolidating the link with the roots of the Olympics, has delivered the Olympic flame to Italy. He was the president of the Fondazione Milano-Cortina 2026, Giovanni Malagò, to proudly collect the witness, pointing out its meaning. “Today is a magical moment for all of us, while we prepare to bring back the sacred Olympic flame on Italian soil for the first time after twenty years. Being here, in this historic stage, reminds us with emotion the honor we have been granted and the precious treasure that we will take home with us.”.
“Italy is proud of its Olympic heritage, athletes and athletes, such as Jasmine Paolini and Filippo Ganna, Stefania Belmondo and Armin Zoeggeler, who represented us on this trip to Greek land, in the name of the excellence that characterizes us. We are ready to write the next chapter in history: in 1960, when Rome hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I had just over a year – added Malagò -. That edition was dominated by the image of the Ethiopian legend Abebe Bikila who won the barefoot marathon under the Arch of Constantine. The last tedophor of the torch relay that year was another runner: Giancarlo Peris, a 19-year-old athlete who had been chosen as the winner of the student race championship in Rome. Perhaps it was not a champion affirmed on the world scene, but Peris symbolized a lively and more hopeful era for Italy. And 65 years later, in Milan Cortina, we aim to exploit once again that Italian spirit full of life. Through this spirit we will inspire and unite the country and the world as we gather to celebrate the precious Olympic values: excellence, friendship and respect”.
The president of the Coni, Luciano Buonfiglio expressed the emotions related to the uniqueness of the event: “They are moments that we live with great intensity within us. I think of the work done by the candidacy to date, the hundreds of people who work there, all those who work to make sure that our country looks beautiful, the foundation Milan Cortina 2026, the Coni, the Government, the Regions, the Municipalities, the volunteers and the torch that from today will travel all Italy. I would like this torch to lead us all to be even more united and coesi when it comes to the performance of our country. Especially when we are abroad we realize how much we are valued and sometimes we do not. Sometimes it would be nice to be proud and proud of what we are doing. Plants? You do not live only works of good, but also of legacy. This path must show that Italy wants to achieve many beautiful things in favor of cities, citizens, girls and boys. Without diversity, in the Olympic world and in the paralympic world. The dream is that you start a plan for sports infrastructure, for sports facilities, because sports companies, who have done so much in these years for Italian sport, deserve and must continue to be under the attention of the Government and the Ministry of Sport, because sport produces well-being, a healthy lifestyle, an example of how you have to behave daily”. At 18 the flame is expected at the Quirinale, at the Vetrata del Cortile d’onore, where it will be welcomed by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
– photo press office Coni –
(ITALPRESS).
