The fencer from Mogliano, flag bearer of Italy at the Paralympics, received the flag from the Head of State
/ TREVISO
An intriguing rhyme with a view of Tokyo makes its way: “V” for victory, “V” for Viviani and Vio. Yes, that sign that many sportsmen make with their fingers. Yes, that sign that the standard bearers Elia Viviani and Bebe Vio hope to present again soon. There is a month to go before the Olympics and there is no better occasion than the delivery of the flag to realize it.
The Head of State Sergio Mattarella entrusts him to the Olympians Elia Viviani and Jessica Rossi, names and surnames closely linked to Venetian sport: he from Verona from Vallese di Oppeano with a past in the Marca, she from Bologna but who trains in Ponso. The Paralympic standard-bearers will have to wait another 60 days, whose review will start on August 24: Bebe, the most famous Moglianese in the world, receives the tricolor with the swimmer Federico Morlacchi. At the Quirinale it is already time for dreams, emotions, emotions. And the words of the 24-year-old fencer, already standard bearer in the closing ceremony of Rio, do not go unnoticed. They seem like a summary of his life. “I hope not to let it fall”, begins Bebe, individual gold and team bronze in foil at the Rio Paralympics, “That flag is something magical, it represents the beauty of this country and the good fortune to be part of it, the crazy team that we are “. Thoughts run fast in my mind, it is inevitable that he dedicates it to those who have been fighting a very hard battle for a year following a serious road accident: «That flag reminds me of my first blue jersey at 14. It reminds me of my favorite song: the Mameli anthem. That flag represents Alex Zanardi, the first disabled athlete I met. I can’t wait: carrying the flag is the dream of a little girl who will come here in a few years in my place. It will be the most beautiful emotion of my whole life ».
Bebe always amazes with words, first of all to amaze on the platform: the goal for Japan is well known, to combine the confirmation of the individual title with the first team gold. But the dream of the encore is also in the head of Viviani, Olympian in charge in track cycling: «I dreamed of this role after the gold in Rio», his words, «I am proud of it, I will carry this joy with me forever. We will live the Olympics of the restart with an extra determination ». The shooter Rossi, who enchanted everyone with gold in the trap in London 2012, follows: «This flag is Italy that is rising again, which has never given up with patience and sacrifice». All in front of a delegation of 200 athletes and technicians.
And President Mattarella points the way: “The post-pandemic Olympics bring a load of hope that gives sport a special value”. –