Two days in Krakow to savour the spirit of the European Games. The Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, allowed himself “a trip to indulge his passion” to Poland to show the government’s support for the Italia Team participating in the European Olympic Committees’ event, set to close on Sunday.

Abodi arrived in Poland in the late afternoon yesterday and then took part that evening, with the Italian Ambassador to Poland, Luca Franchetti Pardo, and the President of the EOC, Spyros Capralos, at a dinner with athletes and representatives of the Italian delegation, starting with the CONI General Secretary, Carlo Mornati, and the Head of Mission, Alessio Palombi, and of the European Committees at Casa Italia, CONI’s hospitality house.

During the day the Minister, accompanied by Mornati, attended the Italian national team events in teqball and triathlon, before subsequently moving to the Tauron Arena for the fencing, which saw Italian fencers excel in the team trials of women’s foil (gold) and men's sabre (silver).

“I hope that one day we too can host the European Games, because Rome and Italy are part of the history of Europe,” said Abodi.