Sport and wellness are an essential combination for healthy living.
It is scientifically proven that a healthy lifestyle also includes regular physical activity at both an amateur and competitive level.
How sport improves psycho-physical wellbeing, giving great emotions thanks to the extraordinary results achieved by Italian athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, was discussed at the "Italian Sport Day"which took place in the amphitheatre of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Italian Sport Day
From the athletics tracks to the Olympic swimming pools, from the racetracks to the Giro d'Italia, today took place the "Italian Sport Day" a day dedicated to the Italian sport promoted by the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, with the presence of athletes and institutional representatives. Italian Sport Day told the 360° scenario of our country, at competitive, economic and planning level.
Speakers at the event included: Valentina Vezzali - Secretary at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (Sport), Giovanni Malagò - CONI President and President of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation, Luca Pancalli - President of the Italian Paralympic Committee.
The importance of sport as a key element of a healthy lifestyle was discussed in his intervention the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio.
Italian sport has proved to be an extraordinary driving force for the all-round promotion of Italian products, and I'm thinking of the synergies between sport and nutrition and the valorisation of the "Made in Italy" brand. Mediterranean diet as a healthy lifestyle". Equally important," he added, "is the link between sport and scientific and technological research, both in terms of ordinary equipment and in the development of prostheses for Paralympic champions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is committed to consolidating the relationship with the world of sport through innovative projects and initiatives". Minister Di Maio stressed that 'sport allows us to communicate abroad the beauty, strength and also the innovative capacity of Italy'.
According to Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI and President of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation, "Through sport we are the bearers of a value, of being Italian, especially for what has been done this year. Beauty is sport and the Italian team unites people".
The beauty of sport unites people and "goes beyond medals and is about what we do every day in our country. The Paralympic world is part of this, it is the other side of the medal and we are proud of what we do every day in the country," he said. The president of the Italian Paralympic Committee said in his speech at the Italian Sport Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, Luca Pancalli.
Sport is 'made up of men and women, above all made up of great challenges, and I believe that being here at Expo is one of these'. He concluded Pancalli.
Women and sport
A woman who represents excellence and inclusion of women in the world of sport is Valentina Vezzali, former Italian fencer and one of the sportspeople with the highest number of Olympic gold medals, and is currently undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for sport. "The beauty of sport lies first of all in the fact that it is life, emotions, disappointments and love", which "makes people dream and offers a second life to those who think they have lost everything". Valentina Vezzali said at the Italian Sports Day.
The 'Women and Sport' talk was attended by: Novella Calligaris former world record holder, Olympic swimming medallist and President of the Associazione Nazionale Atleti Olimpici e Azzurri d'Italia; Emanuela Maccarani former athlete member of the CONI national technical committee; Vincenza Petrill, paralympic silver medal in archery at Tokyo 2020; Antonella Palmisano gold medal in the 20 km march in Tokyo 2020 and Caterina Banti gold medal in sailing (Nacra 17) at Tokyo 2020.
"The world of women's sport has grown so much,' he explained Novella Calligaris - and finally came out on top. If there is one activity in our lives where women have been able to have their say through meritocracy and not through quotas, it is sport. Women in sport have drawn an important line, demonstrating a lot even after their sporting careers, paving the way for integration".
Closing her speech, Novella Calligaris, referring to the claim of the Italian Pavilion, "“The beauty that unites people”., stressed that 'there is no activity in the world that unites beauty more than sport'.
After "Italian Sport Day", the appointment with the beauty of "Italian know-how" is for tomorrow, 24 November, on the occasion of Italy National Day.
Italy National Day
Expo 2020 Dubai is dedicating an entire day to our country, with cultural events, high-profile institutional meetings, activities for families and entertainment, inside and outside the Italian Pavilion.
What does the day include?
A rich program of institutional, cultural and folklore events.
In the morning at Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, there will be the opening ceremony with the raising of the flag and the execution of the national anthems of Italy and the United Arab Emirates. This will be followed by statements from the highest authorities of the two countries, including Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio. An exhibition by the Carabinieri will conclude the ceremony.
Concert by the Accademia Teatro alla Scala
Throughout the day, the Expo site sees a succession of cultural and folklore events, which culminate in the evening with a special event. concert of soloists and orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala Academydirected by Donato Renzetti. The event is realised thanks to the support of Bracco Foundation, Founding Member of Accademia Teatro alla Scala and Gold Sponsor of the Italian Pavillion.
"The Bracco Foundation has a special bond with the Accademia Teatro alla Scala," she says Diana BraccoPresident of the Bracco Foundation. In recent years," he adds, "we have supported the Academy in many initiatives, not only in Italy but also abroad. Now we have decided to take the La Scala Orchestra to Expo 2020 in Dubai, offering these young talents a prestigious international stage".
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