MORMANNO (CS) – The national archery championship organized by Fiarcthe Italian Federation of field archers, which this year will take place in Mormannoin the heart of Pollino, from 25 to 31 August organized by the local “Lake Archers Company” chaired by Gianluca Fortunato, with the financial support of the Municipality of Mormanno, Gal Pollino, the Pollino National Park, the Province of Cosenza and the Calabria Region.
This afternoon the press conference took place at the Mormanno sports hall which officially kicked off the event which attracts many athletes and enthusiasts every year. Beyond 170 athletes from all over Italy cwho will participate in the event taking place for the third time in Mormanno.
“After 2013 and 2018 we return to Mormanno with our event. Three important editions, each with its own value and this one is particular, a smaller participation than we expected but with the most important archers from all over Italy” he said Flavia Arioni, president of Fiarc, the first woman to lead the Federation after 42 years. But why Mormanno so many times? “Most of our athletes are located in the North and this means discover a territory which does not exist here, allowing us to do so get to know Calabria to all our archers.”
Calabria at the center of archery sport: welcome to participants and athletes
All the athletes and participants were welcomed by the president of the “Lake Archers Company”, Gianluca Fortunato, who thanked all those who collaborated and first of all the associations: “Mormanno is what it is thanks to the work of the associations” he said thanking the federation “which has believed in us since 2013”. Although it is the third time for Mormanno, the Company is not satisfied: “We are taking a bet, we want the World Cup and the European Championships, we have shown that we can do it, we have the strength, we can overcome any path we take. – said Fortunato – We want to bring the Calabria at the center of archery sport“.
Also followed by the welcome from the mayor of Mormanno, Paolo Pappaterra who thanked the local company in the figure of president Fortunato who “managed to do something extraordinarya work perfected together with all local organizations and institutional and non-institutional sponsors – said the mayor – Why invest in these events? Because in addition to enhancing the specificities and beauties of Pollino, they bring social and economic wealth throughout the territory”. From Pappaterra, a good championship for everyone, with the invitation to enjoy the places and the people of Mormanno.
This was echoed by the president of Gal Pollino, Domenico Pappaterra, who thanked the organizers for still believing in Mormanno, noting that the work begun in recent years, when he was at the helm of the Pollino National Park, has continued: “Thank you for coming to Calabria again and for your continuity, today that you have returned here with greater strength and preparation”. A memory from Pappaterra to the 10 victims of the tragedy of Raganello which took place in August 2018 while the Italian archery championship was taking place in Mormanno.
Archery: a sport that unites and puts you in contact with nature
A sport, that of archery, which allows you to be in contact with nature as the competitions take place mainly in the woods and this allows you “to get to know different territories, from the Po Valley to the mountains of Trentino up to the beauties of Calabria, here we are at the top of the mountains but surrounded by the sea. The beauty of our sport is precisely this: you are in contact with nature and unites people” said the Fiarc president.
“An extremely important event” that of the Fiarc championship as defined by the commissioner of the Pollino Park, Luigi Lirangi “which allows us to host in the Park and in particular in Mormanno many athletes and lovers of this sport who come from all over Italy and this can only be a source of pride which demonstrates how there is the capacity, in our territories, to organize important activities. An opportunity given to all those who participate know our places e di live slowly the beauties of our Park”.
The evening opened with a show by the folk group “Miromagnum” who welcomed all the athletes and representatives of the Federation to Mormanno. After a first performance, the “Miromagnum” invited athletes and participants to dance together for a great party that unites.
A special memory at the opening of the championship
The “Arcieri del Lago” wanted to dedicate a special memory on this opening day of the championship to one of the founding members of the Company, to the one who was honorary president, Rocco De Franco, for everyone simply “uncle Rocco”, who passed away last March.
From the stage the Company recalled that Uncle Rocco, already ill, had assured all the archers of his support for the organization of the championship. “I’m sure – said a representative of the Company – that uncle Rocco is giving us a hand from up there”. Then the invitation to all participants: “Bring a bit of Uncle Rocco in your arrows“One was dedicated to him shield with arrows delivered to his son Carmine, visibly moved: “A wonderful surprise, thanks to all of you.”
