He is a president of the smiling republic, as always it is when he is among young sportsmen: in this case the girls of the women’s national football football, protagonists of an excellent European championship, reached a semifinal on the point of turning twice in a final, lost only for a rude destiny, first in full long recovery minute and then rebound 11 meters from the end. There is a scorching disappointment and the president, and, asking for permission from the authorities present, the first office of the state begins with them, from the girls on whose path Sergio Mattarella is found of the highly informed first hand: what comes out is a constitutional reading of women’s football.
«I asked you to come, making you make a detour from your programs this morning, to thank you and congratulate you. Thank you because you have done a splendid European. And you have, with this, honor the shirt and flag of our country ». He speaks of sport as “an element not only necessary, but fundamental of social life”. Of athletes “driving tip of this phenomenon”, which “drag with their successes to practice sport, boys, girls, girls and boys”.
“Congratulations,” begins the president, “for how you have done – magnificently – this European. AND I don’t tell you because someone made me know, or as far as I read in the newspapers or on websites, but because I followed you. The time allowed me, and I followed all your games: from Belgium to Portugal, to Spain, and then Norway, to Tuesday’s semifinal ».
Not only that: “I had prepared”, confides Mattarella, “all to reach you in Basel. But, as you all said, you have to avoid, we must all avoid being prisoners of that succession of unfortunate events that prevented you from landing in the final. Lastly, after that magnificent parade on the penalty that bodes well for the subsequent final penalties ».
«You, you have conquered your trophy; You got your medals. Because you have, on the one hand – as the technical director said – written a beautiful sports page. But you also presented high -level performance; You have carried out a tournament, in every appointment, really of high level and of great quality. And above all, you sent a message to the company of our country. A little earlier, he remembered Cristiana Girelli of the meeting here six years ago. With that meeting I wanted to underline the importance of women’s football and how much it was to be supported, supporting and encouraging ».
Remember that on that occasion Sara Gama: “He made an important reference to article 3 of the Constitution, to equality, to equal opportunities, with equal conditions. From prehistory it has always been more difficult for women everything. Fortunately, this condition is being overcome. But there is still a way to go and this is important, because sport also serves this: to show how talents express themselvesas we are committed, stimulating boys, boys and girls to do sports, to improve the condition of social relationships. Sport, with the values it expresses and is inspired, strengthens, consolidates social life. Here, you have, with these days of the European Championship, the reality of your sport consolidated, you made it appreciate in all its value. And this is a particularly important contribution to the life of our country, to make it – as Christian – more right and more aware of it “.
