I have a confession to make. I love the Olympic Games.
Or should I say I’m addicted to the Olympic Games.
I fell in love with the Games when I was 12 and I’ve never follen out. It was Los Angeles 1984. What happened? I don’t know. I just discovered the Games and I wanted to know everything about them. I followed them on TV, didn’t miss a game. I cheered the Italian team like crazy, though I also appreciated other athletes as well. As a matter of fact, my favourite athlete that year was Carl Lewis. He always was until the day he retired and I still damned my work timetable that didn’t allow me to assit to his last jump at Atlanta’s Games in 1996. It is just not fair that I didn’t see him jump that last time.
Well… I suppose I have to live with that…
It is still not fair.

I’ve always, always followed the Game ever since.
In 2013 the Winter Olympic Games were held here in Italy, I could see the Olympic Flame passing through Verona. It was such an emotion.

If you asked me why I like the Olympic Games this much… I really don’t know.
I like sport in general (though I don’t practice any) because I think it’s one of those things that can make us better people. It can teach us to reach for the best we can give and accept our shortcomings. Accept there are people who are better fitted then us, and that’s ok, because we can learn from them. I think sports can teach us to live better with ourseves and with each other.
And call me a romantic (which sure I am), but I love the idea that once upon a time, wars were kept on hold to allow the Games. I love the idea that our ancestors (well, at least the ancestors of European people like me) thought that history started with the Games, that time started with the Games, that all higher values started with the Games.

And so it begins!
And guess what. Two kids from my town Isola della Scala will be there (six athletes form Verona and its province will be in Rio). Give me that flag! I’m going to cheeeeeeeeeerrrrr!!!!!