While the Italians were busy with the New Year’s Eve dinner, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella he addressed them, live on television and on unified networks from the Studio alla Vetrata del Quirinale, for theeleventh end-of-year message of his mandate. The Head of State wanted to base his speech on history of the Italian Republic which will turn 80 years old in the year that is about to begin: “Let’s quickly leaf through an imaginary album of the history of the Republic, as we sometimes do when we meet with family”.
And just imagining leafing through this album, Mattarella also came to a page dedicated to sport: “Sport has a place of great importance in our album. Unforgettable stories and athletes. The protagonists of the 1960 Rome Olympicsin which Italy was the first to introduce Paralympic participation. Sport, therefore, has contributed to the growth of the countryto give us moments of joy, of pride, of belonging. Just as it always happens when listening to the Italian anthem at an awards ceremony. All this will be renewed once again with the Milan – Cortina games. The spread of sport, in addition to the message of peace, friendship and inclusion it expresses, is a powerful antidote to youth violence And to drugs“.