Olympic GamesPyeongChang 2018
coni.it
All the Olympic and Paralympic medalists of PyeongChang 2018 were guests at the Quirinale of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Tuesday 27 March 2018 13 minutes reading time
The blue flag bearers Arianna Fontana for the opening ceremony of the Olympics and Giacomo Bertagnolli and Fabrizio Casal, athlete-guide, standard-bearer for the closing ceremony of the Paralympics, have returned the Italian flag to the Head of State. The two delegations were led by the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and by the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli. The athletes who took part in the event were the Olympic medalists in South Korea Arianna Fontana, Cecilia Maffei, Lucia Peretti and Martina Valcepina (short track), Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia (Alpine skiing), Lukas Hofer, Dominik Windisch, Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer (biathlon), Michela Moioli (snowboard), Federico Pellegrino (cross country skiing), Nicola Tumolero (speed skating), and the Paralympic medalists Giacomo Bertagnolli-Fabrizio Casal (alpine skiing) and Manuel Pozzerle (Snowboardcross).
Giovanni Malagò (from coni.it): "I am very happy with what was the result of the entire Italian expedition today, in what is a unique and symbolically important moment that celebrates the return from our adventure in Korea after the Olympics winter, there is the debut of the new Secretary General of CONI, Carlo Mornati: for the first time an Olympic athlete is Secretary, an important message that I want to give to those who wear the blue shirt Before leaving I was unbalanced, but not only we have reached the double-digit milestone, which is an important thermometer, but I think that the President of CONI and who works at the Olympic Committee should not be judged only for the number of medals but overall for the figure, the image, the behavior style: all factors that have characterized the life of our expedition in those 17 days, before, during and after the single event .. President, Italy has really come out with its head held high each of its components. Sometimes there are situations that undermine the victory on the field, maybe wrong statements, behaviors that criticize the juries, sometimes with good reason, with the doping that always threatens the world of sport. The beautiful figure has been there from every point of view, we are proud of this tricolor that we carry on the heart. We have been an example, sportingly and not only, also internationally and in relations with the IOC, always trying to honor the message that you, President, made us participate before the Games, thanks to Casa Italia, which was the a symbolic place to enhance our brand and to host many initiatives also in the form of the formidable diplomacy that characterized the Olympic Games, with the Taekwondo Koreans who chose it. We are honored to be here with our flag-bearer who was amazing and who won a gold medal 24 years after another flag-bearer like Deborah Compagnoni, but it was a women's Olympics also for the gold medals of Sofia Goggia and Michela Moioli. We are proud of you. We are proud to be Italian, we are proud to be here ".
Luca Pancalli (from coni.it): "What our athletes have done is extraordinary and not only for the results achieved, also because we came from the zero podiums of Sochi, symbolizing the triumph of sport as a tool to rehabilitate civil society. from a debacle and I do not think only of those who won the medals but also those who 'touched.' I thank Malagò and the authorities, government and military and especially the President of the Republic who has never missed the support, because in such a delicate moment for our country has found once again the time to receive us after the Olympics and Paralympics.We have the presumption and the pride of representing a piece of the country's welfare, and it is an honor to experience such occasions ".
Luca Lotti (from coni.it): "Thanks and congratulations from the Government and from all the Italians like me who woke up at night to follow your races, thanks to the athletes, the presidents, the sports groups and to all those who work behind the spotlight with strength.After your victories there is the work of many people, I was lucky enough to be with you at the opening ceremony, a very cold evening for me and full of emotions for you.That evening we saw a message that knows sport: behind the handshake between the two Koreas there is the universal message of the sport that unites In the ceremony of delivery of the flag I told the story of Colò, the only one to win a downhill medal, now it is no longer So before leaving, I wished you to look at the athletes of the past and you took me at my word: from Italian the best way to say thank you is to make you aware that today those giants are you, an example for young people about how sacrifices are made and yes comes to success. Maybe one of those guys will be one of the future champions. I am very happy, moreover, of the female part. Your victories are the best way to show the Italians that when you do not give up you reach the goal ".
Sergio Mattarella (from coni.it): "Congratulations you have had an exciting experience, not just a sporting event.The Olympics are a moment of gathering, of human cohabitation, an occasion of peace and it has been seen. participation even if the time zone did not allow you to always follow live.I managed to see live, seen the 500 meters of the fountain, really exciting.I thought how much in those few moments you express the tiring preparation. is behind in terms of sacrifice, commitment, preparation, concentration.I saw Sofia Goggia downhill.I spoke to her on the phone and told me that before coming to the Quirinale she had another commitment and won it as well as Michela Moioli. to her, her race was exciting, those rhythms make us think how much control is needed in the movements, it was an extraordinary show, Fontana had a crescendo and collected a gold, u n silver and a bronze. I also saw the 3000 race, sometimes it's not easy to understand what's going on but it's fascinating. All female businesses: I do not want men, but it is a good thing that encourages girls in our country to get more involved. The medals of Bertagnolli and Casal were an extraordinary spectacle. We all cheered for you to represent a model of behavior, the paradigm of life. Your performance is based on mutual trust and is a call for everyone. Congratulations to all, the medals are important and represent a thermometer of the level of our sport but the best show was offered by the commitment and passion of all the athletes who participated in the Games. CONI and CIP exist to ensure team value and are a heritage of our country. The Olympics are a call to commitment for all our young people: I hope that this happens and makes our country always better. The Tricolore with your signatures is a beautiful memory and the sign that you have represented our country with great prestige, thank you, welcome back and congratulations ".
Sofia Goggia (from fisi.org): "I thank President Mattarella for the compliments: being here at the Quirinale is an honor for me.The day of the victory of the gold medal in free descent I fielded the best Sofia that l '' appointment could take and I managed to achieve the 'goal, which brings responsibility? No, it is the realization of a dream and I will never stop dreaming like when I was a child .. The president of the Coni Malagò said that we are an example for people, we must be and remain in our simplicity as athletes ".
Michela Moioli (from fisi.org): "It was great to be here today and close the circle this season.These are exciting moments for us to meet athletes, shake hands with President Mattarella and hear his words made me It's a wonderful recognition for the sacrifices and training of this year.Now holiday, but as soon as I return, we will start working to achieve the next goals ".
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