Aim well and pedal hard. It could be the new motto of the blue expedition a Tokyo 2020. It is also the synthesis of the pair of blue flag-bearers, launched today: Jessica Rossi and Elia Viviani. A woman and a man from Italy Team will parade in front of everyone in pairs at copening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, next July 23 at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. A historic turning point for several reasons. For the first time since the introduction of the figure of the standard bearer on the occasion of the 1912 Stockholm Games (Alberto Braglia, first blue to parade with the tricolor), Coni has approved a double designation in view of Tokyo 2020, in full compliance with the indications of the International Olympic Committee on gender equality.
An absolute first also with regard to the disciplines represented: skeet shooting with the Olympian Jessica Rossi, cycling with the Omnium Olympian Viviani. The president of Coni, Giovanni Malago made the choice official this morning at the Giunta: "Two people who have a common denominator, two Olympic gold medals and two sports that are incredibly two disciplines that have brought nearly 100 Olympic medals to the country and have never had a standard-bearer since 1896“, Explained the head of Italian sport, satisfied with a choice that, he specifies“ was also dictated by a whole series of calendar vicissitudes.
There were many women and many men who could be taken into consideration, many eligible athletes. But we wanted to focus on who had won an Olympic gold ", concluded the head of Italian sport, also citing other eligible candidates such as Diana Bacosi and Chiara Cainero, and by answering those who asked him about Paola Egonu, considered by many to be among the most accredited until the eve. The ceremony of delivery of the tricolor by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, will take place at the Quirinale on 23 June, exactly one month from the official start of the Games: "I feel infinite joy, I'm happy, it's a fantastic thing - the Italian Olympian confided to ANSA - I think it's the best, with me there will be the whole world of clay pigeon shooting ". Viviani, on the other hand, learned the news in the middle of the Giro d'Italia: "It is a satisfaction different from any victory - he declared at the end of the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia, from the trial to the Rai-stage - it will be an incredible thing that I will carry for all my life".
A news that also enthused the vice president of the Federciclismo, Norma Gimondi, new member of the Giunta, who recalled how Tokyo is also a pleasant anniversary for cycling having been the first Olympics of the father, the great Felice Gimondi. "A perfect choice", the Undersecretary for Sport would have confided to Malagò, Valentina Vezzali, already standard-bearer in London 2012 when the then 17-year-old Jessica Rossi won gold in the world record trap (99 out of 100) becoming the second youngest Italian ever to win an Olympic gold after Federica Pellegrini: "That tricolor will weigh a lot - wrote Vezzali in a tweet - but it will enter your heart. Enjoy every moment and every emotion. Be proud to represent Italy and Italian sport ”. The president of the Italian skeet shooting federation (Fitav), Luciano Rossi, did not fail to express his satisfaction: "A really beautiful surprise, Jessica deserves it. A great recognition to the shooting family, a sport that has brought many medals, a story that starts from afar and that has not always received the attention we think we are meditating "(Handle).