The tripod illuminated Castel Sant’Angelo giving the official start to the Smart Games 2.1 di Special Olympics Italia which, scheduled until 15th of July, will involve 3,816 athletes in 22 sports. To hold the Opening Ceremony at the baptism was present the undersecretary with responsibility for Sport of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Valentina Vezzali: “Special Olympics with its athletes and family members is a fantastic reality that, due to the high social value it holds, is part of the world of sport at 360 degrees. The innovative Smart Games 2.1 represent, despite the period we are experiencing, the opportunity to be all together and have fun before being able to hug each other again. “
These the 22 sporting disciplines proposed: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Football, Rowing, Indoor Rowing, Karate, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Golf, Swimming, Open Water, Volleyball, Snowshoes, Rugby, Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Tennis and table tennis. The competitions, structured through individual activities to be held also outdoors on the basis of the relevant national and territorial provisions on safety, consist of exercises developed and adapted to the context by the national technical discipline staff. This, as a note explains, the meaning of Smart Games 2.1: evolution of last year’s Smart Games which, created to counter the isolation of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities, amazed, amazed and moved an entire country involving 4,948 athletes and attracting the attention of the major national institutions.
Also present at the opening ceremony was the Minister of Youth Policies, Fabiana Dadone: “I see in Special Olympics athletes a great purity and ability to overcome any obstacle. In this difficult year the Smart Games are an incredible strategy that teaches us how strong these athletes are from a character point of view. The only limits that exist are the cultural ones and the athletes teach us it every day “. Among others, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Education also participated in the presence or remotely, Rossano Sasso, the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, the president of Sport and Health, Vito Cozzoli, the national councilor of the CIP, Sandrino Leeks. The greeting of the city to the athletes came directly from the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi: “It was not easy to resume activities after this difficult period, this event is a great example of creativity. Sport offers everyone the opportunity to overcome their own limits by highlighting abilities: we learn to see disability with different eyes and Special Olympics is a great lens to learn how to do it “.
The president spoke on behalf of Special Olympics, Angelo Moratti: “The world of sport and all the institutions present today are proof that Special Olympics, not only in the world but also in Italy, represents a model capable of enhancing differences, promoting, through sport, an important cultural transformation for our country “. (SAY)
