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December 23, 2021The ceremony for the delivery of the Tricolor to the Italian flag bearers at the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games took place at the Quirinale. "Welcome and welcome to the Quirinale" begins the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella addressing the Olympic and Paralympic athletes: " A fascinating adventure begins for you ", affirms the president, who in addition to best wishes also congratulates" for this behind us in terms of work, sacrifice, training, concentration, motivation ", which" arouses passion in young people for sports fatigue, thanks to your example ". 



Mattarella also wanted to underline that "Paralympic sport, as president Luca Pancalli said, has grown a lot thanks to its athletes and is a measure of civilization in our society". The president also recalled how sport has kept Italians company and given hope since the beginning of the pandemic: "A cliché of an undisciplined Italian people inclined to creativity has been disproved" because athletes have never lacked dedication and constant preparation. "In this pandemic, all the athletes, Olympic and Paralympic, have shown that they know how to go beyond their limits. I am sure you will do the same in Beijing. Our fellow citizens expect many medals, but also that you honor our country and the flag"



In view of the departure for the Winter Olympics, "you are followed by a lot of affection from all the Italians, and I among them. Best wishes", concluded the head of state. 



"I am here with the flag to represent Paralympic sport in Beijing. It is a great honor to have been chosen by President Pancalli. The flag represents not only me, but also the whole Paralympic world. It will be an exceptional Paralympic game. Each of us will give the honor. 100 per 100. The important thing, however, is that every athlete has a story and values ​​that he wants to tell and through competitions we manage to do it, a story that still eludes many today ", said Giacomo Bertagnolli, Italian flag bearer at the Olympic Games and Beijing Paralympics 2022.



Champion Sofia Goggia is also on stage to collect the flag, talking about her expectations: "What to expect from the Games? I don't know, everyone always has high expectations for the Olympics, but skiing is made up of a thousand variables and I sure I promise that I will give my best to be the best Sofia ".

Finally, a passage on the responsibility of his role after the great results of the first part of the season.

"Pressure is the essence of sport, there are those who hold it and those who get crushed but athletes of our caliber must know how to manage it and despite the weight on their shoulders they must be able to concentrate only on performance", concluded Goggia.