| Italian EuroGames medalists received by the President of the House of Representatives |
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Last August 5th, a delegation of about 40 athletes, medalists at the EuroGames Barcelona 08, were received for the first time by Gianfranco Fini, President of the Italian House of Representatives, and leader of the most right wing party in the current center-right Italian government. The reception was asked for by Anna Paola Concia, congresswoman for the Democratic Party and gold medalist herself in the tennis tournament of the EuroGames, and saw the participation of Pepe García Vásquez, co-president of the EGLSF.  Most of the athletes received were members of Gay Sport Italia (GSI), a newly created umbrella organization which includes about 15 teams and sportive Italian associations. Italian participants won 59 medals at the EuroGames: 24 golds (10 in swimming, 9 in track and field, 2 in volleyball, 2 in tennis, 1 in synchronized swimming) with other medals in beach volleyball, football and golf. Paola Concia, congresswoman for the Democratic Party, defined the moment "historical". For the first time homosexual athletes, returned from the LGBT EuroGames have been received at the Italian House of Representatives. There, to honor them, was the president of the House, Gianfranco Fini, leader of a party that has been several times on opposite sides of the fence with respect to the gay community. "The teaching which comes from whoever practices any sport - Fini says - is that the "other" does not exist, except as an adversary towards whom respect is due". Concia gave Fini "as a pledge" the medal she had won in the tennis tournament. |
