The Brothers of Italy group has submitted a question to the Regional Council regarding the failure to include the Municipality of Narbolia among the official stops on the Sardinian route of the Olympic torch for the XXVI Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
The request is addressed to the President of the Regional Council and to the regional councillor responsible for sports matters, to whom the first signatory Emanuele Cera and his colleagues ask for written answers on the matter, after the mayor of the municipality of Oristano Gian Giuseppe Vargiu had also expressed disappointment , launching an appeal to regional leaders and CONI to review the process.
The reason? Narbolia is the hometown of volleyball champion Alessia Orro, one of the symbols of Sardinian sport. Therefore, the exclusion, write the FdI councilors, "has sparked disappointment and surprise among the local community, since it appears all the more serious given the champion's strong ties to Sardinia, and in particular to her hometown."
"Alessia Orro," Cera commented, "today represents a figure of Sardinian and Italian sporting excellence: winner of European and world titles, a key member of the Italian women's national volleyball team, she has chosen to maintain strong roots on her island. In light of this, we felt it necessary to consult the President of the Region and the Regional Council to clarify the technical and political reasons why Narbolia was not included among the locations where the torch will pass."
"We believe," Cera continued, "that political intervention by regional leaders is useful and appropriate to reevaluate the decisions made and, in consultation with the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation and the other organizers, to evaluate the possibility of adjusting the route by inserting a stop or detour in Narbolia, coinciding with the presence of champion Alessia Orro. This will give the passage symbols of belonging, meritocracy, and Sardinian identity, and as a concrete sign of recognition of Sardinia as a producer of sporting excellence."
"The bond between Alessia Orro and her home community," FdI continues, "is a testament to Sardinia's ability to produce champions and ambassadors in the world of sport. Involving Narbolia in the torch relay therefore means highlighting merit, raising the island's profile, and strengthening the identity of a community that proudly supports its athlete."
The Olympic torch will parade in Sardinia on December 12 and 13 , touching 12 municipalities and the UNESCO site of the Nuraghe of Barumini.
(Unioneonline)