ROMA
The warm embrace of Rome melted the hearts of the Italian champions who enchanted the world at the Tokyo Games. One hundred and nine medals, 40 at the Olympics and 69 at the Paralympics, for an Italy of 110 and praise that yesterday celebrated its heroes by making them parade aboard five buses discovered in the heart of the Eternal City, passing through the Lungo Tevere, Castel Sant ‘ Angelo, Piazza San Pietro and then up towards the Quirinale for the first institutional appointment followed, a few hours later, by a visit to Palazzo Chigi.
On a very hot afternoon, the Azzurri gathered a few minutes after 3 pm in front of Palazzo H to take souvenir photos of a summer that will remain indelible in the minds of fans and then got on board the vehicles set up ad hoc by Coni and Cip to celebrate their exploits.
Before visiting the Head of State Sergio Mattarella, Gimbo Tamberi stopped to joke in the square in front of the Quirinale with Marcell Jacobs and Filippo Ganna, who arrived at full speed from Belgium after the recent world spells on Sunday (gold bis in the individual time trial) and Wednesday (bronze in the mixed relay). «Without taking anything away from the latest medals won in Flanders, the Olympics gives you that something that everything else cannot give you – admitted Top Ganna -. We hope to continue along this line and leave some tradition for the young people to come ».
Speaking of seasonal rulers, Tamberi, who closed 2021 with a flourish with the triumph in the Diamond League, added: “It was very nice to share the memories of Tokyo with the companions of other sports and with the Paralympic athletes, who have also returned. triumphs from Japan. Most of us play an individual sport, but it is fantastic to feel that we are all part of a single national team ». –