The 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics may have passed, but the memories of daily competitions, celebrations, and ceremonies remain alive in the minds and hearts of many athletes and sports lovers worldwide. Members of Team Italia enjoyed another special moment together on September 23rd when President Sergio Mattarella invited all medal-winning athletes, as well as those who came close to securing a spot on the podium, to the Quirinale Palace for a special ceremony. The event also marked the return of the flags used during the Opening Ceremonies by both teams.
The Italian Team that traveled to Paris consisted of 403 Olympic athletes and 141 Paralympic athletes. Together, the two teams won 111 medals — the same number as the Tokyo Olympics (40), with two more compared to the 2021 Paralympics. President Mattarella welcomed various representatives, including CONI President Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Comitato Paralimpico Luca Pancalli, CONI General Secretary Carlo Mornati, and CONI Vice Presidents Silvia Salis and Claudia Giordani. Mr. Malagò and Mr. Pancalli delivered speeches to an audience that included athletes, coaches, family members, and the press. L’Italo-Americano received special access, attending the ceremony held in the stunning Salone dei Corazzieri. Not only did we cover the event, but also had the opportunity to speak with some of the athletes who made history at these games.
When President Mattarella entered the room and the national anthem played, everyone stood up, placing their right hands over their hearts, affirming their attachment to the country and the tricolore flag. A short film played, prompting tears across the room. It featured moments of glory, falls, and numerous challenges, showing how these athletes gave everything, even when it wasn’t enough. Overall, the stats reflect a successful run, with records that will be hard to break. For example, Team Italia won at least one medal every day of the Olympics since Rio 2016, meaning that for 36 consecutive days, Italy had athletes on the podium. The Italian women’s volleyball team claimed its first-ever Olympic gold medal, tennis players Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani won gold in the finals, and Lorenzo Musetti earned Italy’s first Olympic tennis medal in 100 years. Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy broke his own record three times within the same competition, just minutes apart.
President Mattarella, a passionate sports enthusiast, has been a constant presence at both the Olympics and Paralympics. The athletes proudly wore their medals from the competitions, and in addition, they received a special medal from the President to recognize their excellence and sacrifice. “It’s a great pleasure to see you here, as we continue the celebration that started when I handed the tricolore flag to the teams a few weeks ago. It is said that rain brings good luck; we all know we had plenty of it on July 26th [during the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris]. Reflecting on the extraordinary moments we shared, we can say that our sports are in good shape. Both teams have displayed great qualities. Welcoming those who didn’t win medals is a way to show what the Olympic spirit is truly about,” he said. The President went on to acknowledge athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Ambra Sabatini, who didn’t secure medals, noting, “They earned a medal for participating and for the love shown to them by the entire nation.” He concluded by saying, “I wish I could have watched all the competitions in person, but I did manage to see many of them on TV. You have lived an incredible experience that allowed you to achieve your goals, but not without sacrifice. Thanks to you, more young people are now committed to sports. Congratulations, and now, let’s look forward to Milano-Cortina 2026.”
Images of the President standing in the rain warmed the hearts of the nation, as did his visits to Villaggio Italia after the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and his return to Paris when he dined with Paralympic athletes at Casa Italia. His phone calls to express support to the teams were frequent; when CONI President Malagò took the stage, he praised President Mattarella’s unwavering support. “We achieved the results we aimed for, matching the number of medals won in 2021,” Malagò stated. “However, we improved in quality, winning two more gold and three more silver medals. We are now at the center of many sports worldwide,” he concluded.
On a similar note, President Pancalli expressed his pride and gratitude, thanking President Mattarella for hosting everyone at the Quirinale Palace. “Replicating what we achieved in Tokyo seemed impossible, but we did it. I believe that, within the Paralympic context, there are no revolutions needed; we simply need to continue the processes we’ve started. Our organization is changing society: people who watch the Paralympics become better humans because they learn to accept diversity as a natural part of life.”
Every four years, lesser-known sports gain prominence, entering households across the country. People tune in to competitions that typically don’t receive much attention on TV or streaming platforms. We had the opportunity to meet Marta Maggetti, one of the Italian athletes who won a gold medal in women’s windsurfing. The 28-year-old from Sardinia reflected on the experience: “This was an unforgettable experience. I started preparing and dreaming about the Olympics at a young age. It took a lot of sacrifice and challenges, but it’s a dream come true. I hope this sport gains more popularity thanks to this medal and the Olympic Games.”
As the celebration ended and the athletes made their way to the buses, some stopped outside the Quirinale Palace to greet fans. Among them were Angela Procida, 24, and Francesca Porcellato, 54, who both competed in the Paralympic Games in September. For them, the invitation demonstrated that the hard work of preparing for the Paralympics is finally being recognized, regardless of the results. “I was able to improve and achieve what I had set out to do. I’m so grateful for it,” Angela Procida told us. “In the past, I didn’t have the best experience, but this time I earned a medal, a testament to what my family and I went through.”
Francesca Porcellato, a 12-time Paralympian, added, “The most important thing for me was being part of the Paralympics. It was emotional and gratifying, especially because I was able to push myself beyond my limits. Showing my values was my biggest victory.”
Besides the different experiences so far, both Angela and Francesca are thinking of Los Angeles 2028. “I may be there as a fan,” Francesca jokes. “It doesn’t matter if we are able to attend as athletes or as fans, I hope to be there anyway”. And we look forward to meeting them, in four years in California, to witness more about their history in the making.
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