After the start in Via della Conciliazione, the race had as its setting the wonders of the Eternal City from the Colosseum to Via dei Fori Imperiali, and the runners from all over Italy and 47 other nations gave life to a real celebration of sport and solidarity. While most of the participants – including many families and people of all ages – tried their hand at non-competitive events (10 and 3 km), there were many athletes and professionals who faced up to the competitive 10 km route.
On the route, which is both fascinating and challenging, with several ups and downs and the different pavements of the historic centre of the Capital, success went to 22-year-old Roman Federico Riva (Fiamme Gialle) who crossed the finish line in 28:38. "It was a spectacular race" in Riva's words "because running on this stage for me, a Roman, is something special." Second place wento to Stefano La Rosa (Carabinieri, 28:46), third to Moroccan Abdessamad El Yaagoubi (Bitonto Runners, 29:15).
In the women's event, 24-year-old Elisa Palmero (Army) won the entire race alone, finishing in 32:28. “I struggled a little in the first part if you consider that Rome is all up and down” said the Piedmontese “but the track is something extraordinary in terms of beauty.” Behind her were Grazia Razzano (Caivano Runners, 36:06) and the Swedish Hanna Bergström (Runcard, 37:29).
“It was a beautiful celebration of sport, so I want to thank all the runners who made this beautiful day possible by contributing with their gesture to the promotion of the Missioni Don Bosco campaign” said Roberto De Benedittis, president of ACSI Italy Athletics and organiser of the race. “We are satisfied and ready to repeat it for next year's edition."
In addition to its unique route in the racing scene, the Corsa dei Santi has always been characterised by its call for solidarity. This year too, a project promoted by Missioni Don Bosco was attached to the race: in Kankan, Guinea Conakry, the Salesians want to use sport as an educational vehicle through the construction of a multifunctional sports centre that will be used to promote the development of young people. A very valuable project because it will provide the 640 beneficiaries with a safe and stimulating place to grow, promoting social inclusion and cohesion – to which it is still possible to contribute, until 5 November, by sending an SMS to the number 45594.
“You are helping Missioni Don Bosco to carry out a project in Guinea Conakry, an African country that is in great need of support from all those who care about the formation of a new society around the world focused on justice, freedom and peace” explained Fr Daniel Antúnez, President of Missioni Don Bosco.
“Guinea has several challenges to address: social change, development with the action of its new leaders, but the main challenge is helping young people to have a future. Vulnerable young people who need someone to help them build a path of growth and a better life”, said Fr Romeo Salami, a young Salesian missionary in Guinea Conakry, Director of the Office of Planning and Development for projects in North West Africa.
The Sons of Don Bosco have been present in Kankan, one of the most populous cities in Guinea, since 1986, with a mission that plays a strategic role for hundreds of young people in the area. The Salesians chose this area to found the mission because they knew the context well, the level of poverty was high, the school system rather fragile and the literacy rate low.
Over the years, Kankan's Salesian work has grown a lot and today consists of a vocational training centre, an oratory-youth centre and a reception house at the service of all the young people in the area. In addition to formation activities, the Centre allows hundreds of young people, not only those attending formation courses, to carry out very valuable sports, socio-educational and socio-cultural activities, given the total lack of infrastructure in the area.
A centre that, however, has some dilapidated sports facilities, inadequate sanitary facilities and insufficient sports equipment.
“We know that young people love sports, and if we want to help them build a future we must be close to them during the activities they love. And so we Salesians use it in our activities and in Kankan we are working on a great sports project: we want to create new infrastructures and raise awareness among young people for a healthy life, rich in sports and inclusion, working on changing mindsets. For this reason, we have involved people with disabilities and women in our project, often on the margins of these activities”, concludes Fr Salami.
