In the wake of the sensational success of the ladies and gentlemen of the Italian National Tennis teams at the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, the Embassy of Italy in Manama was honoured to organise its first edition of the Italian Sports Day in the World in the context of Ironman Bahrain 2024.
Sport is not competition; it is passion, friendship and loyalty, universal language, a bridge between cultures and a fundamental and powerful tool of diplomacy. Each of us has his own favourite champion, be it a cyclist, a skier, a footballer, a rower, a runner, a fencer or a favourite team (Forza Azzurri!!). Very often the idol is not Italian ... but I'm not mentioning anyone, I'm leaving it to your personal imagination, love and passion for the effort that goes behind the feats of our favourite ones! Speaking of favourites, who knows or remembers the story of Dorando Pietri at the 1908 Olympics in London? Just ask Arthur Conan Doyle…
Passions that, in the spirit of the first Olympic Games in Athens and of Baron de Coubertin, unite us and must never, never divide us.
The initiative, that was celebrated in Bahrain on November 27, 28 and 29, coincided with the Bahrain Ironman 70.3 competition. The Embassy of Italy was the first and only diplomatic representation to have its own stand at the Ironman Village. "Over the Limits" exhibition drew the attention of many visitors who were delighted to take part in our organised events which highlighted Italian technology for sport and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, as part of the new national strategy that integrates sport as a key element of diplomacy, offering a platform to enhance our image worldwide. In addition to the Healthy eating seminar organised for children and not to forget our most popular drawing completion, where children got to win their own Giornata dello sport italiano nel mondo water bottle in one of the three vibrant colours of the Italian flag.
Visitors from all over the world stopped to chat, learn more about Italian sport and famous Italian athletes. We were honoured to welcome the majority of the Italian participants who took part in this year’s edition of the competition. But without a doubt the proudest moment was when I welcomed (and photographed) Alice Betto herself at the finishing line where she came 5th by gender with an impressive time of 4:14:23. Alice Betto joined us to share her personal experience at our stand, inspiring many young and not-so-young visitors to follow in her footsteps.
The Italian Sports Day in the World, officially launched on September 13 at Villa Madama by Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Deputy Prime Minister, is an innovative project promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Youth and the Italian National Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.). The aim of this annual event is to celebrate Italy’s excellence through sport, highlighting its central role in promoting universal values such as solidarity, respect for others, inclusion and fair play, and to strengthen the bond between Italian communities abroad and Italy, using sport as a glue for identity.
The date chosen in Italy for this celebration is no coincidence as it fell on “Pietro Mennea Day”, a tribute to the unforgettable Italian athlete who on September 12, 1979 set a record in Mexico City that is still unbeaten at the European level in the 200 metres. Pietro Mennea, however, was not only a champion in his sport filed. Holding five different bachelor’s degrees and as a Member of the European Parliament, he is an extraordinary example of dedication, integrity and commitment to his country. Remembering him means celebrating not only his sporting achievements, but also the human and cultural values that Italian sport continues to embody in the world.
The same synergy between sport and culture was reflected in the recent Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, celebrated in Bahrain from November 16 to 22. This year's theme was the Mediterranean diet as a healthy lifestyle, highlighting how health, wellness and culinary traditions are an integral part of the Italian identity. Like sport, Italian cuisine is a powerful tool for promoting our culture abroad.
In Bahrain, Italian Sports Day was a special occasion to present our country not only as a nation capable of producing athletes and champions in every sporting discipline, but also as a place of excellence, creativity and innovation. The Italian stand at Ironman was a meeting point to discover how our sporting tradition is closely linked to an industrial and cultural system that knows how to look to the future without losing touch with its roots.
By Andrea Catalano
Italian Ambassador to Bahrain
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