Jannik Sinner won the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz, but in the stands, Italy was clearly outnumbered by Spain, at least in terms of institutional presence . A difference that was immediately noticed, amid controversy not only on social media.
"It's an own goal for Italy," says the AVS group leader in the Senate, Luana Zanella, while the Democratic Party's head of sports, Mauro Berruto, calls "the absence of government representatives regrettable, at this historic moment, and the absence of the CONI president sensational."
"There were no members of the government, no institutions, and we're sorry about that. It would have been nice to be there. The most important thing is to celebrate Sinner's victory," commented yesterday the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi , when asked about the absence of institutional representatives from Rome on Centre Court, where Sinner's ambassador to Great Britain, Inigo Lambertini, was present, and Alcaraz was cheered on by King Felipe of Spain and the Interior Minister of Madrid. "I witnessed Sinner's victory from afar; unlike other times, I didn't go. Even a minister sometimes needs to take a break and spend a day with his family," added Abodi.
An explanation that Matteo Renzi, leader of the Italian Youth Party (IV), calls " ridiculous ." The minister did not address the now tense relationship with FITP President Binaghi, who had objected to the inclusion of "binding" rules for the Italian ATP Finals in the Sports Decree. The minister simply explained that the decree "establishes a structured relationship between the federation and Sport e Salute, which represents sports policy as the operational arm of the government. I hope the agreement can be a tool that guarantees the centrality of the federation itself and Sport e Salute." This explanation did not convince Berruto and Renzi, who unanimously demanded that the government "keep its hands off the ATP Finals."
The triumph of the South Tyrolean world number 1, the first ever by an Italian tennis player in the London major, will still be recognized at the palace in Rome.
"Every victory has been celebrated, and I'm sure there will be more. The key is to find a common ground between the institutional agenda and Sinner's sporting agenda; whenever he wants, we will be ready to welcome and embrace him," added the minister, who was present at the Quirinale or Palazzo Chigi during the champion's previous meetings, along with other Italian tennis players, the Head of State, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
However, Sinner's absence from the Quirinale Palace last January, shortly after returning from Melbourne following his second consecutive victory at the Australian Open, caused a stir. Tired but also stressed by the Clostebol affair, which had resulted in a three-month ban just days earlier, the Italian chose not to attend, although he did receive compliments from Sergio Mattarella in his speech during the brief ceremony.
(Unioneonline)
