LONDON-03/08/2017
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy in London, Vincenzo Celeste, presided over the opening of “Casa Atletica Italiana”, the large space next to Liverpool Street in London, which will be home of the ‘azzurri’ during the Athletic World Championships – the sixteenth in history and the first on British soil – taking place between the 4th and 13th of August.
Minister Celeste congratulated the President of FIDAL, Alfio Giommi, for the impeccable installation of “Casa Atletica Italiana” a showcase of the best traditions in keeping with Italian style. Having greeted the 36 Italian athletes who had already arrived or were soon to arrive in the British capital, he underlined the importance of sport in the relations between Italy and the United Kingdom and the value of athletics in promoting those values of team play, commitment and tenacity.
Present at the launch and at the successive press conference was long-jumper Kevin Ojiaku, the first Italian athlete to race at 20:30 (Italian time) on Friday the 4th of August. The 28 year old ‘fiamma gialla’ who earnt his place with a personal progress of up to 8,20 – will be the sixth to jump in Group B. To reach the final he needs to land at 8,05 or will place only in the best 12 qualifiers. Speaking alongside Ojiaku was Margherita Magnani, who will also take to the track on the 4th of August (at 21:01).
Magnani will run the third and last heat of the 1500 metres. The Italian record holder for the 400hs Yadis Pedroso has also arrived in London. The hurdler from the Airforce will face the track on the 7th of August (at 20:30pm) the same track on which she won last year on the 9th of July in the Diamond League of the IAAF, running in 54.87 seconds, the second best time of her career.
Good luck guys by the staff of Italy News.