Fifteen Italian champions of the recent past, a Palestinian and an Israeli athlete will be the protagonists of the marathon-pilgrimage from Jerusalem to Bethlehem due to take place on 23 April. It’s an event that forms part of the wider programme of the pilgrimage of “Italian sportsmen in the Holy Land. Ambassadors of peace” (20-24 April 2004) who will visit the most significant holy places of the Biblical and Christian tradition. Former world cycling champion Moreno Argentin, the bronze medallist in the 110 metre hurdles at the Mexico City Olympics Eddy Ottoz, Olympic rowing champion Davide Tizzano and athletics champion Alessandro Lambruschini, are just some of the athletes who will bring the torch lit by the Pope during the general audience on Wednesday 14 April to the Holy Land. The marathon will be inaugurated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and Gianni Petrucci, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). After tracing the walls of the old city of Jerusalem, and flanking the area in which the controversial “wall” is supposed to be built, the athletes will then reach Palestinian territory, where the local Christian community is busily preparing to greet the participants. The marathon-pilgrimage will end in Bethlehem, in front of the Basilica of the Nativity where Cardinal Ruini will celebrate a mass. “Walking together between the two cities that are the symbol of the Holy Land shows once again how sport can make a contribution to dialogue, reconciliation and peace”, declares a press release put out by Italy’s episcopal office for the ministry of leisure time, tourism and sport, which promoted the event in collaboration with the CSI (Italian Sports Centre), the Roman Pilgrimage charity and CONI.
