The sound of the Italian national anthem is accompanied by spontaneous applause. With the Italian flag waving in the Adler Coastal Village, the Italian Olympic mission has begun. A quick, affectionate exchange of gifts between the President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and the mayor of the Village, Elena Isynbaeva which, shortly before, sealed the welcome for Italy at the headquarters of the XXII Olympic Winter Games. A silver medal from Rome '60 for the multiple Olympic champion, a Matryoshka doll branded with the colours of the Games for Malagò. The meaning of the welcome ceremony is summed up in the short but effective message, aimed at celebrating Olympic values ​​, which greeted the Italian Azzurri athletes, coaches and officials, including the Olympic champion Matteo Anesi of Speed ​​Skating and Valentina Marchei of Figure Skating. The ceremony, apart from Italy, involved the Netherlands, Sweden and Uzbekistan.