Elegance, talent and champions from all over the world: Piazza di Siena takes the stage

ROME — “Elegance and power, which stand out in the shuffling of the hooves that seem to stop time at every obstacle, are the elements that make this sport one of the most exciting disciplines. The best pairings will be here and we will have the good fortune to admire its harmony and perfection achieved with a lot of training, commitment and discipline”. The letter from the Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi – engaged in a European summit with his counterparts in Brussels – opened the press conference on Monday morning to present Siena squarethe 5-star Roman competition immersed in Villa Borghese, scheduled from 25 to 28 May (on 24 at 19 the opening with the concert “Opera Italiana is in the Air” directed by Maestro Alvise Casellati, wanted by Fise and Intesa Sanpaolo, free for those who will listen to classical music from the ancient steps and from the green areas around the oval). The Csio titled ai D’Inzeo brothers – two legends ofequitation – has reached its 90th edition. On the centenary of Pietro’s birth, on the tenth anniversary of Raimondo’s death. “We must help promote the enhancement of open-air and non-open-air sports facilities, present throughout the country. These investments – continued Abodi – developed and planned throughout the territory, represent a means of giving back to the community areas that can improve their condition, their liveability. Sports facilities are social infrastructures that can help cities in the context of urban regeneration processes”.

And it is precisely around the management of Piazza di Siena (free access for all spectators on race days) that the interventions of Mark DiPaolapresident of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, by Vito Cozzolipresident of Sport and Health, and of the councilors of the Municipality of Rome Sabrina Alfonsi (Environment) e Honored Alexander (Sports and Tourism). The area that hosts the four days is curated during the year by Fise and from Sports and Health, a project that also includes the development of the riding track, where the young promises of blue horse riding train and grow. “We wanted to demonstrate – underlined Di Paola – that an international event can be responsibly hosted in a monumental setting that has a large number of visitors. The prize money is one million, 500 thousand euros go to the winner of the Rome GP”. This year there will be 81 athletes from 16 nations. “We have the top five in the world rankings, it will be an extremely competitive event. This is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete together. We also have all the riders who won the Nations Cup in 2017 and 2018, which proves the longevity of our sport”.

For Cozzoli Piazza di Siena “goes beyond the sporting sphere, it has entered the DNA of Italian society. Our task is to enhance a jewel that we have the good fortune and privilege to manage, making it ever more beautiful in the eyes of the world. Piazza di Siena it is sport, culture, art, sustainability, but it is also social. We are proud to organize this great event and to promote sport in the riding track where 9 social projects promoted by Sport and Health are developed. Piazza di Siena is a heritage that we all we want to cultivate: this year it is a lawn without frontiers, without barriers. We feel like the custodians of this square, we do it together with the Municipality of Rome and this year we want to do it also by favoring beauty”. Onorato observed that “Piazza di Siena is one of the events that leave a concrete legacy, beyond the sporting aspect. It has returned to being a jewel like many years ago, as also happened for Colle Oppio thanks to the Skate World Championships and at the Foro Italico thanks to the tennis internationals. If the jackpot goes up, it means that the tournament is working well and creating an economy”.

The ability to attract enthusiasts, tourists and capitals is also the starting point for Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. “There is a need to pay attention to this world, to protect the excellence of Italian horse breeds. Breeders and trainers are the main representatives of this excellence. The D’Inzeo brothers have become a symbol, used around the world to make comparisons when he wants to tell about a feat on horseback. I hope that other families will succeed them”. The reference is to the brothers Anthony And Giampiero Garofalo, this last fresh Italian champion, present at Villa Borghese. “On the part of the ministry I represent – Lollobrigida’s commitment – there is the will to collaborate more and more with the school and for moments of excellence like this, necessary for a sport to become popular. We remain a super power of quality and we must defend this characteristic of ours”.

The focus on the sporting aspect was set by the president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò: “Piazza di Siena is an important testing ground in view of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Horse riding is beautiful, indeed unique, because women and men compete in the same category”. Concept in the heart also of the councilor of the Lazio Region, Louise Regiments: “Horse riding is a sport that enhances the presence and female qualities. We welcome these events that bring well-being and redevelop our city, bringing better effects for our safety”. The show can begin.