The new athletes have sworn allegiance to the Homeland. General Goretti welcomed them into the great family of the Italian Air Force
I am 13 new athletes (11 winners of the 2022 VFP4 athlete competition and 2 athletes of national interest who won the 2023 VFP competition) who this afternoon, Thursday 7 September, have sworn allegiance to the Fatherland against the atmospheric backdrop of the newly renovated Italian Air Force Historical Museum (MUSAM) in Vineyard of the Valley.
At the end of an intense week dedicated to onboarding and indoctrination, the young athletes received the “welcome to the great family of the Italian Air Force” on behalf of Chief of Staff, Air Squad General Luca Goretti, in a meeting held in the historical rooms of Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome.
In particular, the General Goretti, referring to the new athletes, pointed out: “With your results you have proven yourselves to be sporting prospects in your disciplines. I am certain that you will continue to fly our country's flag high in the most important international competitions. You will do so by proudly wearing the colours of the Armed Force, driven by a passion for what you do, just as all the personnel of the Italian Air Force have been doing for a hundred years.”. General Goretti finally concluded by saying: “in close synergy with your respective Federations and in accordance with what is promoted by the Ministry of Defence for the promotion of sport, we will give you all the necessary support to enable you to give your best and achieve very important results”.
This afternoon, the young recruits, visibly excited, shouted their “I swear it!” in front of their families, the godmother, Leading Airman Valentina Palumbo, gold medallist at the recent fencing world championships, and the Commander of the CSSAM (Air Force Historiographical and Sports Centre), Colonel Luigi Barbagallo who, in his welcome speech, made a point of emphasising[...] it is useless to hide it, to the responsibility that stems from being athletes who proudly wear the national tricolour, from today is added that which arises from being military personnel, full representatives of our country's defence sector and in particular of the Italian Air Force. In shouting your “I swear“ today, you too are placing your daily work, as athletes, at the service of the country and the institution you represent even before your personal goals. Be proud of it.
The new athletes who will carry the colours of the Italian flag and those of the Italian Air Force are:
Jun. Law. Giulia Segatori and Jun. Law. Sofia Maffeis – Rhythmic Gymnastics
Giammarco Tuzi, Solicitor – Clay Pigeon Shooting;
Av. Sc. Nicole Arlia – Table Tennis;
Lawyer Andrea Calabro – Equestrian Sports;
Sara Del Gratta, LL.B., and Riccardo Baldan, LL.B. – Canoa;
Av. Sc. Aurora Grandis – Fencing;
Alice Muraro, Stefano Grendene, Marta Morara, Maria Roberta Gherca and Enrico Saccomano – Athletics.
Il Sports Centre of the Italian Air Force contributes to the protection of the national sports heritage through careful scouting of the best talents of national and international interest. Thanks to a top-tier staff, it ensures athletes receive the appropriate support during all phases of competitive preparation and contributes to their technical development both practically and theoretically.
