The San Marino champions of TOKYO2020 in Città di Castello
On Wednesday 6 October, the San Francesco de Sales Institute in Città di Castello welcomed Alessandra Perilli and Gian Marco Berti, San Marino athletes who were protagonists of the Tokyo Olympics. Also present at the event were the vice president of the San Marino Olympic Committee and the journalist Massimo Boccucci. The owner of Bottega Tifernate welcomed them with a prize.
Alessandra Perilli and Gian Marco Berti led San Marino to the silver medal in mixed trap, a mixed pairs discipline of clay shooting. Following Alessandra Perilli's bronze in the women's race, the little Repubblica immediately took home its second Olympic medal. The returning athletes receive the first class Medal of Merit and the honor of having won the first Olympic medals in the history of San Marino.
Principal Simone Polchi welcomed the delegation who received greetings from bishop Domenico Cancian and sports councilor Massimo Massetti. The councilor then gave the guests a publication on Raphael to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the artist's death. In memory of the visit to the Umbrian city Stefano Lazzari, owner of the Bottega Tifernate, gives guests an artistic fresco reproduction of the Marriage of the Virgin, also by Raphael.
The two athletes talked about their human and sporting journey. This made it possible to understand that the basis of their success is willpower, commitment and sacrifice. Alessandra Perilli talked about how she started as an amateur in her first Olympics in London in 2012 and how she did not place in the final in Rio in 2016. During her presentation she proudly underlines the fact that beyond her work as an athlete she is especially a mother. Gian Marco Berti retraced his personal growth based on his study and profession as a lawyer. He then specified how his passion for shooting was passed on to him from his father.
Vice President Forcellini underlined the importance of sport in daily life. The objective of meetings of this kind is to bring young people closer to sport and distance them from a sedentary lifestyle. For the San Francesco de Sales Institute it was a unique experience, shared with students and institutions from Tiferno.