In the heart of an Italy preparing to host one of the world's most anticipated sporting events, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella delivered a speech destined to leave its mark. A heartfelt, profound and hopeful appeal addressed to To athletes, youth and the entire sports community, on the eve of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
In a courtroom packed with emotions and expectations, Mattarella touched sensitive chords, mixing values, memory and the future, turning the ceremony into a manifesto of civic and sporting engagement.
Sports as a School of Life
"Sport is a gymnasium of values", Mattarella began, reminding how competition is never an end in itself, but a vehicle for respect, inclusion, perseverance and solidarity. He emphasized how each medal is the result of sacrifice, but also of relationships, shared training, and the ability to overcome personal limitations.
Words addressed not only to Olympic athletes, but to all those who play sports every day in gyms, backyards, and sports centers in the Italian suburbs: "Every young person who trains is an investment in the country's future".
Olympic Values as a Bridge of Peace
At a time in history marked by international tensions and conflicts shaking the world, the President recalled how the Games represent A unique opportunity to affirm peace through the universal language of sports.
"Milan Cortina 2026 will not only be a sporting event, but a message of civilization. It is our job to make sure that every athlete, every volunteer, every spectator experiences this as a time of dialogue, exchange and mutual respect."
A particularly poignant passage was dedicated to the paralympic athletes, defined "Living examples of strength and resilience", who with their commitment "They break cultural barriers before they break physical ones".
Italy of the Young and Talented
Mattarella then spoke directly to young people, the real beating heart of the Games. He encouraged the younger generation to experience sports as a tool for personal and collective growth: "Be curious, be determined, be loyal. Sports will teach you that every defeat is an opportunity to start again".
In his speech, the president also praised the work of schools, families, and coaches who educate daily about discipline, respect for rules, and teamwork.
Milan Cortina 2026: A National Challenge.
Looking ahead to 2026, Mattarella called on all institutions, local and national, to work together in a spirit of service: "Milan Cortina will be the face of Italy that knows how to combine efficiency and beauty, passion and innovation".
A clear call to make Olympic preparation. A model of sustainability, inclusion and responsibility. Italy, he said, "must not only host the Games, but embody its values".
A Legacy for the Future
The speech concluded with an appeal to building a lasting legacy: useful infrastructure, accessible facilities, but above all a widespread sports culture, in which no one is excluded and every young person can find in the movement an ally to grow. In a firm but emotional voice, Mattarella recalled that. Italy looks to the future with pride and responsibility, and that "the Games don't just belong to the athletes: they belong to all of us".
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