The Ambassador of Italy to Bolivia, Fabio Messineo, received the Bolivian Olympic delegation at the historic Italian Residence in La Paz on the eve of their departure for Milan, where they will participate, for the eighth time, in the Winter Olympic Games.
The Ambassador recalled that Bolivia’s first participation dates back to 1956, when the Games were held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and highlighted how the Andean country, through its continued presence, honours the true Olympic spirit. He also underlined the role sport plays today as an instrument of peace and dialogue among peoples, as well as its significant importance in Italy within the framework of growth diplomacy, in view of the strong driving effect of Italian companies operating in the sector.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health and Delegate for Sports, Roberto Bustamante Ponce; the Vice President of the Senate, Soledad Chapetón; and the President of the Bolivian National Olympic Committee, Marco Antonio Arze, together with representatives of the winter sports federations and members of the media.
Special best wishes were extended to Bolivian athlete Timo Gronlund, who has qualified for cross-country skiing events for the third consecutive time and who, at the previous edition, achieved the second-best result among Latin American athletes.
