An oceanic crowd outside the Basilica of Bonaria , in Cagliari , for the last farewell to Gigi Riva . Thirty thousand people , according to the Police Headquarters, for the funeral celebrated by Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi.
« Sport is shared passion, joy, a gift from the Creator . In these days we have celebrated all this in Gigi Riva", said Monsignor Baturi in his homily.
«There are many images of these days – added Baturi – the elegance of the race, the beauty and power of the gesture. And the spontaneous celebration, like all of us as children, with arms raised towards the sky . Run again dear Gigi - said Monsignor Baturi - and stretch your arms to the sky again . Run and look up." «We pray – he concluded – that the Lord may come to meet you. May God be your home forever together with your parents and your sister Fausta. Live in peace."
«We have lost a piece of Sardinia», recalled Riva's son, Nicola , in a touching speech at the end of the ceremony. Where he wanted to first of all thank Gigi's people , focusing on the thousands of people who in Cagliari, outside the Basilica of Bonaria and even before that at the funeral home wanted to pay homage to the Myth. A crowd of adults but also of young people and children, "people whose father never knew him", recalled Nicola Riva, and who went to the funeral home to offer condolences but who, due to the pain they felt, "we almost felt that we have to do it to them", he added, his voice cracking with emotion.
The coffin of the great champion was greeted upon arrival in Bonaria by applause and a red and blue scarf . " There is only one Gigi Riva ", the chant of the fans as they exited the churchyard.
Bonaria also received applause for Cagliari . In the front row the coach Claudio Ranieri and the president Tommaso Giulini . Then the managers and the team, including the injured Oristanio on crutches.
Inside the church, among others, the president of CONI Giovanni Malagò , the baronet Gianfranco Zola, Gianluigi Buffon and the entire delegation of the 2006 world champion Italy . And again the mayor of Cagliari Paolo Truzzu who joined the other first citizens who arrived in the capital from all over Sardinia and the governor Christian Solinas .
Flags and banners in the churchyard of the basilica, cordoned off with a guided route to direct the flow of people. A giant screen allowed even the furthest people to follow the proceedings. Not only in front of Bonaria. A second giant screen was also set up in Piazza dei Centomila , which welcomed another part of the Sardinian people who participated from under the steps.
Many had already gathered outside the basilica since the morning because "we couldn't miss it, for what Gigi Riva represented for all of Sardinia and beyond", they explain. In the churchyard there are testimonies not only from the island, because there are many fans who from Italy and abroad have chosen to arrive in Cagliari for a final farewell to the Legend.
Until the early hours of the afternoon, there was a long queue at the Domus , where the tribute also arrived from the 2006 national team , world champions in Germany, of which Rombo di Tuono was the head of the delegation.
And then the last farewell of many players of today and yesterday, such as Gianfranco Zola , the minister Andrea Abodi , the president of the CONI Giovanni Malagò , the president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina . And again the national coach Luciano Spalletti .
After the mass the body will be buried in the Monumental Cemetery . The ceremony will be strictly private, therefore reserved for family members.
(Unioneonline)