The President of the Council of Ministers Matteo Renzi has entered Casa Italia in Rio de Janeiro. Accompanied by the President of CONI, Giovanni Malago, and the General Secretary, Roberto Fabbricini, along with the Italian Members of the IOC and the President of the Organising Committee of Rome 2024, Luca di Montezemolo, the Prime Minister inaugurated the magnificent facility of the Costa Brava Club which overlooks the sea between Barra da Tijuca and Sao Conrado.

"It is the most beautiful Casa Italia ever" underlined Malagò, during a ceremony that was attended by several members of the IOC, the Presidents of many Olympic Committees, the leaders of International Federations and Italian Sports Federations, the CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, as well as numerous members of the Olympic family and various institutional representatives.

Team Italy was represented by the Head of the Rio Delegation, the Deputy General Secretary of CONI, Carlo Mornati, and a delegation of the women's foil team, including Olympic champion Elisa Di Francisca, along with ambassadors Lucchetta, Chechi, Myers, Rossi and Rosolino.

Malagò proudly highlighted the evening's events. "This facility represents and embodies the excellence of Made in Italy and we are proud to inaugurate it with President Renzi, who has always supported us. Casa Italia encapsulates sport, art and culture all in the name of innovation. While respecting the rules of the IOC and fellow candidates, Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris, we are here to stress the seriousness of our bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. But now it is time to think about Rio 2016: on Saturday the race for Italy's 200th gold medal at the Summer Olympics begins. It would be nice to win it in front of the Prime Minister ", who replied that he will only be in Rio on Saturday 7th August: so - he concluded - you have to do it fast".

Renzi then recalled that "this is a special night for us, because we can share the Games' values of peace and respect. At school they used to tell us wars would call a ceasefire during the Olympic Games. Now that is no longer the case, so a moment of brotherhood is needed. Let's not lose our identity, which also includes sport. We must work together in order not to lose our identity and maintain our values, and sport is one of the main. More than ever, today I have felt proud and the passion to be Italian. I'm here to support our athletes".