Rome, September 10 as part of the celebrations for the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano today received all the Italian Olympic and Paralympic champions, including the medallists from the Rome 1960 Games and the recent stars from the Vancouver Winter Games and Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

The gardens of the Quirinale Palace, residence of the President of the Republic, hosted the many participants from all over the peninsula and from abroad for this very special highlight, one of the many events organized by CONI and the City of Rome aimed at offering the Italian capital the chance to relive the emotions of the Rome 1960 Olympic Games.

Patrick Hickey (IRL), IOC Member and President of the EOC, attended the ceremony in representation of the European NOCs.

The big delegation of Italian sportsmen was led by the CONI President  Giovanni Petrucci, CONI Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, the Vice-presidents Riccardo Agabio and Luca Pancalli, also president of the Italian Paralympic Commiitee and the Italian IOC members, Vice President Mario Pescante, Franco Carraro and Manuela Di Centa.

The IOC members and former athletes who had taken part in the competitions of the Roma 60 Olympics also attended the ceremony at the Quirinal Palace: King Constantin of Greece, Phillip Coles (AUS) and Peter Tallberg (FIN) as well as the IOC members Pál Schmitt, currently President of Hungary, Thomas Bach (GER), Craig Reedie (GBR), Juan Antonio Samaranch jr (ESP) Rita Subowo (Indonesia), Habu Gumel (Nigeria).

The Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, represented the city which had hosted the XVII edition of the Olympic Games.