7 disciplines, 3 courses, 1 winner: Centauro VI took victory in the sports games.
It took place on Friday 19 May, at the “Serg.Magg. C.Q.S. Marco Venezia” Sports Field of the’Italian Air Force Academyi, the awards and closing ceremony Sports Facilities, which saw the Aspirants triumph Course Centaur VI.
The winners will enjoy a significant honour at the highest training institute of the Air Force: for the whole of next year, they will be the holders of the Cup Challenge of the Sports Games, boasting among other things the unwritten title of the most athletically accomplished team.
Up to now, the highly coveted trophy has been jealously guarded by “Eaglets”, and the Second Lieutenants of the Corso Aquila VI, who exactly a year ago outperformed the younger courses in multiple sporting competitions, demonstrating commitment, determination, and, above all, team spirit, the winning keys to the entire competition that do honour to their seniority.
The ceremony, presided over by Commander of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region, Air Force Corps General Silvano Frigerio, which was preceded by the 4x1 lap athletics relay, won by Corso Centauro VI, who also won the last football match against the Aspirants of the Corso Borea VI.
The competition, which began on 20 March, saw the students participate with the utmost loyalty, commitment, and observance of the rules, and compete in a sporting spirit in the following disciplines: athletics, swimming, shooting, football, basketball, volleyball, and sailing (with two different boats within the Gulf of Pozzuoli).
The rivalry isn't confined to the field; the stands, too, are a battleground for attendees, who cheer on their colleagues and allow themselves the freedom to tease, in a spirit of good-natured camaraderie, even towards older colleagues who become rivals to be beaten in the competition.
Noteworthy in this 2023 edition are the results achieved by Aspirant Giulia Vergallo of Course Borea VI, who set a new record in the 1500 metres flat race with a time of 5’11’05 and, for the second consecutive year, won the ADRA Trophy (Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica), awarded to the attendee who achieved the highest score in individual tests.
It Commander of the Academy, after thanking General Frigerio for his authoritative presence, he praised the Permanent Staff for the perfect organisation of the Sports Games. Then, addressing the young athletes “7 disciplines, 3 courses, 1 winner, that's the harsh law of the Ludi. Congratulations to Course Centaur VI, well done! But my congratulations also go to the Aspirants of Course Borea VI and the Cadets of Course Drago VI who, in these weeks, have put yourselves to the test with great determination and great loyalty. You never gave up!”
At the end of his speech, before officially declaring the 2023 Games closed, the General Casali has highlighted the importance of the course spirit “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do daily with great spirit and sacrifice, because life at the Academy is not simple. We are here so that you can acquire the skills needed to be effectively employed within our Armed Forces. Remember, it is a privilege to work in service of the country.
Next, Air Force General Silvano Frigerio took the floor. “Today I am here because I want to bear witness to you how important sporting activity and a healthy competitive spirit are, which are fundamental for your growth and for you to become professionals in your respective fields of employment. I hope to instil in each of you this propensity for sporting and physical activity that should accompany you throughout your military career.
To conclude his/her/their speech “My sincerest congratulations to the Centaur VI Course, but my appreciation also goes to the vanquished: to the Dragon VI Course, which participated for the first time and will have another two years to be able to win the Ludi Sportivi, and to the Aspirants of the Borea VI Course who this year concluded their experience in this sporting competition.
The’ Air Force Academy It depends on the Command of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region. It is a military institute of higher education of a university character tasked with recruiting and training young people who aspire to become Officers of the Air Force. By attending the Regular Courses of the Academy, one can become a Second Lieutenant in Permanent Active Service in the Air Force branch, in the normal Navigational Role (pilots) and in the Normal Role of the Weapons, Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautical Commissariat Corps, and Aeronautical Medical Corps. The Institute also conducts Courses for Officer Cadets (Complementary and Fixed-Term Pilots and Navigators) and directly appointed Second Lieutenants (of both the Normal and Special Roles); finally, the Academy's Study Plan includes Courses with a specialist aeronautical character, for foreign personnel and other Armed Forces.
