The athletics team set off for Rome this morning and will take part in the “Palio dei Comuni” this afternoon, the opening event of the competition
They set off this morning full of enthusiasm and keen to make a good impression. Twelve young athletes from the athletics section of Polisportiva I’Giglio in Castelfiorentino are heading to Rome’s Olympic Stadium to take part this afternoon in the ‘Palio dei Comuni’, the opening event of the ‘Golden Gala’ (a sporting event named after Pietro Mennea) and the fifth round of the Diamond League, the most prestigious international athletics circuit.
In recent weeks, training has intensified for the team led by Tiziano Marzotti, and there is therefore great anticipation for the relay races, which will take place on the same track where world-class athletes will compete. The athletes from Polisportiva I’Giglio are aged between 12 and 14 and will be up against 140 other teams from all over Italy. The team members are: Matteo Niccolai, Alessio Tognetti, Melissa Mugnai, Gaia Signorini, Cosimo Gadenz, Mattia Rossi, Filippo Palermo, Brando Veracini, Ginevra Lici, Elia Parziale, Gaia Giomi and Christian Scarselli.
Once they arrive in Rome (after a short break), the athletes from Castelfiorentino will warm up inside the “Stadio dei Marmi” (now named after Pietro Mennea) and, in the afternoon, at around 5.00 pm, they will compete in front of a crowd of around 20,000 spectators.
“Our young athletes,” notes Tiziano Marzotti, “are aware of the importance of the event and will aim to push the town of Castelfiorentino as high as possible in the rankings. For the occasion, they will wear the special jersey that the sports club has created specifically for the event.”
“We are delighted,” notes the Councillor for Sport, Gianluca D’Alessio, “that our young athletes are taking part in an event that is a fully-fledged part of the Golden Gala programme, the Italian leg of the most important international athletics meeting. Their presence does credit to Polisportiva I’Giglio and to the commitment of Tiziano Marzotti, who is also accompanying them to the event to instil confidence in them regarding the work done so far. Regardless of the results they achieve, the Castelfiorentino Municipal Council is proud of them.”