Washington, DC (September 10, 2024) – As part of the initiatives of the Embassy of Italy in Washington for the first-ever Italian Sports Day in the World, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia hosted the event “The Giro d’Italia and the endless discovery of Italy” at the Embassy today.
This initiative follows the DC Bike Ride cycling event held on Saturday, September 7th, which saw a large group of diplomats, officials, and representatives of the Italian and Italian-American communities in Washington carry the Italian tricolor through the streets of the American capital.
“For the Italian Government, sports diplomacy is a priority, a tool for promoting dialogue and international cooperation,” said the Ambassador, emphasizing that “we chose to dedicate this day to cycling and the Giro d’Italia because they are extraordinary ambassadors of Italy and its beauty around the world.”
Today’s event was hosted by Italian-American influencer Tony Polcari (“Tony P”) in conversation with Olympic champion Paolo Bettini and the winner of the most recent Giro d’Italia, Elisa Longo Borghini, who shared their experiences. Joining their testimonies was that of Paralympic athlete Diego Gastaldi, who, in a video message, introduced the U.S. audience to the documentary Giro Express, featuring a selection of the most representative places from the 2024 Giro d’Italia. This iconic sporting event is increasingly recognized worldwide and serves as a showcase for Italy and the richness of its regions.
Among the guests were Italian-language students from several schools in the capital and a delegation from Special Olympics International. In 2025, Turin will host the next Special Olympics World Winter Games, a sporting event that promotes social inclusion by involving athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.
The Embassy of Italy in Washington, in collaboration with the Giro d’Italia, Castelli, and BKOOL, will launch the “Win a trip to the Giro d’Italia” contest tomorrow, aimed at American cycling enthusiasts. Participants will be able to share photos and videos of their cycling experiences inspired by Italy through social media. The first prize will be a trip to Italy to watch two stages of the next Giro d’Italia.
