(ATR) Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi gave a stirring endorsement to the Rome 2024 bid at the Ceremony of Golden Colors on the grounds of the historic Foro Italico.
The annual award ceremony staged by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) to honor Italian Olympians was hosted by CONI president Giovanni Malago. Rome 2024 president Luca Cordero de Montezemolo also was part of the presentation as sport and political leaders joined together to show solidarity in support of the Rome 2024 bid.
Renzi opened his speech, telling the Olympians in attendance: "When you win, Italy wins."
The Italian Prime Minister then candidly assessed the current situation in the race for the 2024 Summer Games.
"We haven’t won anything yet – some of our competitors have already given up, but we go ahead," Renzi said.
Renzi referred last year’s awards, when he announced Rome was putting its bid forward. The government leader noted that some Italian media doubted the bid, suggesting that other candidates, including Boston and the German bid were very strong.
"Boston is out, but Rome is here," Renzi said, eliciting rapturous laughter from the audience of athletes, Olympic heroes, media, and CONI and bid officials.
The 40-year-old Italian prime minister from Florence – who assumed office in February – asserted that he will do everything in his power to give the bid a realistic chance against remaining rivals Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest.
"We commit ourselves at all levels to win this bid," Renzi said.
The Italian prime minister continued stressing the importance of transparency and keeping Roman and Italian citizens informed of decisions along the process. He also spoke of initiating construction projects, while pledging to keep Italy’s youth at the forefront of the bid.
"From now until 2016, we will ensure that the building of the infrastructure has started which will also be a signal of hope to our youth," Renzi said.
Renzi boldly concluded: "We can with the Olympic Games – I’m deeply convinced about it.
"All the conditions are united for the success of the bid."
It was also announced that 10 million Euros will be provided to Rome 2024 through the Italian state law on stability. The Italian budget commission approved the funding, broken down into two million for 2016 and eight million for 2017.
Renzi also mentioned the great opportunity for Rome having won the right to host the 2022 Ryder Cup for the first time.
After his speech, Renzi remained at the ceremony for the entire two-hour duration, presenting awards, joking with recipients and Olympic officials, and generally enjoying his time mixing with the Italian Olympic family.
Italy’s sports champions dating back to the London 1948 Games were honored, including nine members the country’s 1960 gold medal winning water polo team.
Also honored was U.S. Open tennis champion Flavia Pennetta, the first Italian women to emerge victorious at the New York tournament, doing so in September. Famed fashion icon Giorgio Armani also received an award for his sleek and stylish designs of the Italian Olympic team uniforms.
The busy and eventful week for Rome 2024, the Italian NOC and the nation’s athletes continued with a private Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Italian president Sergio Mattarella will host the Olympians at his official residence, Quirinal Palace.
The awards ceremony on the historic grounds of Foro Italico, which CONI began in 1995, comes one day after Rome 2024 unveiled its official logo.
Montezemolo, the popular former Ferrari chairman, spoke of the Italian capital’s strengths in his address.
"The city of Rome wants to realize the most beautiful Olympics of the century," Montezemolo said. "We have everything we need to do it – culture, beauty, technology and the enthusiasm of our young people.
"We have to take advantage of this great opportunity in front of the world.
"And today we have sent a strong message to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne and to our competitors; Los Angeles, Paris and Budapest."
Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain was illuminated on Monday evening during a seven-minute show, another highlight of the week’s festivities. The display of colors, light, and images – all choreographed to music – showcased four eras of Roman history while paying tribute to Italian Olympic legends. It culminated with a display of the new logo.
Residents and visitors to the Italian capital can see the show throughout the week,
The IOC will select the host city in Lima, Peru in September 2017.
Written and reported in Rome byBrian Pinelli
For general comments or questions,click here.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Brigitte Henriques: “The important thing is that the women who are elected should be chosen for their ability, not because we are looking for modernization in terms of gender”
“When I was a girl I couldn’t find a club to play soccer in because most of them didn’t work with women,” Henriques tells Around the Rings during an in-depth interview in Crete, Greece.
The Hula Report: Winds of Change for ANOC in Crete
New leaders coming for peak Olympic group. Whether other candidates emerge in the months ahead, a contested election for the ANOC presidency will be a first for the organization.
Gilles Gilbert Gresenguet, presidential candidate for AFCNO: “We must take advantage of Paris 2024 to bring the Olympic Games back to French”
The elections take place November 18, and Abakar Djermah Aumi, president of the Chad Olympic Committee, is also aiming to win them.
USOPC announces 613-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team
Roger Federer pulls out of Tokyo Olympics: "I am greatly disappointed"
(ATR) Federer cites "a setback with my knee" for the decision.
