Olympic Italy triumphs in France, the government celebrates and the left is jealous –

Louis Frasca

August 12, 2024

It’s over. Macron’s disastrous Olympics have come to an end and Italy, despite all the inconveniences, has managed to equal the medals of Tokyo but with more gold. Instead of rejoicing, however, there are those who have preferred to create controversy by confusing the positions of Vannacci, who still does not understand what he really means with his statements promptly retracted and “softened”, with those of the government. Despite the fact that from Meloni to Salvini passing through Tajani they have followed and rejoiced for all the blue victories, without other colors in between.

And among the first to congratulate the new Olympic champions was Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stressed: «Our Italian volleyball team, playing an impeccable match, have made us dream again with a historic victory that gives Italy its twelfth gold. Extraordinary». Even Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, immediately congratulated them: «The gold in history. The Italian volleyball team on the highest Olympic podium for the first time. Gold number 12 and equaling the record of 40 medals in Tokyo. Thanks to all our athletes, Forza Italia!». The other Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, echoed him: «First Olympic Gold for Italian volleyball in history. Great girls, you were legendary! Only applause».

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, telephoned the President of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, to congratulate the players and in general for the Italian Olympic team. The Head of State also announced that he will also call the “wooden medals” to the Quirinale, which are many in this edition, because they also deserved it.

Then came General Roberto Vannacci, now a member of the European Parliament, who took center stage and immediately became a trend on X: “I am very happy that all our Italian female athletes have won this memorable Olympic gold,” he said, wanting to then pour water on the fire of the past controversy with Paola Egonu but still remaining on his position: “I confirm what I said and I continue to compliment her, I have never doubted that she is a great Italian athlete, of Nigerian origin, an origin that I believe she herself is proud of, and that shows in her physical features. But this does not change anything about her skill and the fact that she helped us win the gold, for me there is no controversy.” Vannacci also added that “at the first opportunity I will ask her for an autograph, she is a great athlete and no one has ever doubted it.”

And as expected, the first reactions came from the majority. Gasparri doesn’t mince words: “It takes Vannacci’s undeniable talent to criticize Paola Egonu on the day of the Olympic triumph of our volleyball athletes.” The leader of Forza Italia in the Justice Commission of the Chamber, Tommaso Antonino Calderone, asked himself: “Can’t he keep quiet?” For the president of Noi Moderati Maurizio Lupi: “Whoever wears the blue jersey is certainly more Italian than those who dispense certificates of Italianness.”

And yet, on the left, there are those who continue to use Vannacci’s statements as a political cudgel: “It is extraordinary to see Bosetti, Sylla, Egonu, De Gennaro, Orro, Antropova get emotional singing the national anthem. It is multi-ethnic Italy that wins”, said Angelo Bonelli of Avs. While the secretary of +Europa, Riccardo Magi, commented: “The historic gold medal of the women’s national volleyball team is a victory of a team that has brought Italy to the top of the world. But the most beautiful smash of this national team is to the racism of those who believe, in 2024, that Italianness means having white skin”. Borrowing the nickname of the journalist Luca Bottura on X (who yesterday addressed a sober “suca” to Vannacci) “Well done but enough”.