Italy's sports heroes, including MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi and the World Cup soccer team, are messengers of the country's vitality and goodwill, Premier Romano Prodi said on Monday.
Speaking at a ceremony to award Italy's top athletes the country's gold medal, Prodi said he was happily "surprised" at the number of victories snatched this year. "I see our sportspeople as the country's great messengers. They are a sign of our vitality, charm and fairness in the sporting arena," said Prodi.
Olympic and world cycling champion Paolo Bettini and Athens 2004 marathon gold medallist Stefano Baldini led a long list of athletes at the event.
Italy's latest, and youngest, world champion - gymnast Vanessa Ferrari was among the stars honoured at the ceremony. The 15-year-old became the first Italian female to take gold at the gymnastics world championships, when she won the all-round competition in Denmark last week.
She pulled off the feat despite a lack of proper facilities to train with in her home city. But Prodi promised that a gym with the equipment she needs will be set up for her soon. Bettini expressed satisfaction that, for once, soccer was not hogging the sporting limelight.
"Today we are finally all on the same level," he said.
"Footballers are usually favoured, it's true. But here at CONI we are all equal. Days like these spur you on to do even better".
Bettini also commented on the ability of Prodi, a keen cyclist, in the saddle: "He pedals well. He does not go too fast, but there's no lack of stamina".
After meeting Prodi and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri Monday, seven-time world motorcycling champion Rossi agreed to be the sponsor of a road-safety media campaign. Experts are alarmed at the number of deaths caused by road accidents here, especially at weekends, when high speeds and alcohol make for the so-called 'Saturday-night Slaughter'.
In 2004 there were 5,625 deaths on Italy's roads, compared to 3,371 in Great Britain. Melandri said sport is "alive and strong in Italy", adding that "there is a strong networkd behind our athletes' great results that gives us reason to be optimistic for the future".
CONI President Gianni Petrucci called for more investment to be made in sport, arguing that with better facilities Italy would be "first in the world".
Petrucci also thanked Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, who retired from Formula One on Sunday. "We are grateful to him and we owe him a lot," Petrucci said of the German, who took the world title a record seven times.
"Every time he won a race the Italian flag was raised".
