Ciao from Rome! Usually in this editorial we deal with news about We the Italians, but this time at least at the beginning of the editorial we make an exception. Also because for the first time in 142 issues, we dedicate to the same topic, in this case sport, two covers in a row.
The July cover had rightly celebrated the Italian national soccer team triumphant at the European Championships, but in August we cannot fail to celebrate the historic success of Italian athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, where Italy won a record number of medals, 40: 10 gold, 10 silver and 20 bronze.
The previous record, which by chance has a reference to Italy and the United States, was 36 medals, achieved in Los Angeles in 1932 and Rome in 1960. The average age of the Italian gold medalists in Tokyo is 26.33 years, that of those who have won a medal anyway is 26.84. In our country, those who have won medals come from 16 regions out of 20, as opposed to 15 in the last edition, with Lombardy and Veneto leading the way as they enter the Olympic climate, for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. But if we look at all the athletes who competed in Tokyo wearing the Italian jersey, we brought athletes from all 20 regions and for the first time we brought athletes born in all five continents, who proudly chose the blue jersey and who, when they went on the podium, sang our hymn with tears in their eyes, together with the Italians who were watching from home on television. There's no space here to tell them all, but the beauty of these medals are the stories of the champions who won them. There is the young nanotechnology graduate, the son of the Nigerian immigrant who cannot go on television to celebrate his son's gold medal because she works as a caregiver of an elderly Italian woman; there is the female champion who wins with her mother's crocheted hair clips in full view, and there is the former bullied boy who today wins the gold medal in karate; and there is the iron lady, with a height of merely 4,8, who at 30 wins the silver against little girls born when she was already competing in her first Olympics. All of them tell us why, even today, the brand Italy is one of the strongest in the world: Venice and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, of course, but above all the people, the Italians.
And talking about Italian sport, we are happy to share the save the date of the gala of the Italian American Sport Foundation, of which We the Italians is media partner for the gala and with which some really interesting ideas are being born to properly promote Italian sport in the United States. We have been talking about it together for months and the sporting successes of this summer convince us that it is something urgent, necessary and successful. Stay tuned, the November 4th gala in New York is just the beginning. See you there!
In the meantime, between one medal and another, the team of We the Italians has worked on a very important news. It's still early to announce it, but it is going to be big. Stay tuned…
Part of the new strategies and exciting news we'll soon be telling you about is due to a new member of our Roman team, Fabrizio Fasani, whom we welcome with particular enthusiasm. After a life-time experience in top management in the technology and utilities sectors, Fabrizio decided to slow down crazy working-rhythms to have more time to follow personal interests and change his professional activity into operational consultancy, especially to support PMI Italian companies in their business development path. In addition to the professional activity, he always developed a deep interest in the world of “Arts and Culture”, not only as a personal intellectual pleasure, but also to support young artists in their growth in the figurative, sculpture and poetry fields. In We the Italians, Fabrizio deals with the financial and organizational aspects of the company.
The We the Italians family continues to grow also in the Ambassadors team, and this makes us very happy indeed. With our brand new 3 new Ambassadors, we now have Ambassadors in 32 American states and 13 Italian regions, and the family will continue to grow.
Maurizio Gamberucci is our Ambassador in Texas, the Lone Star State. Maurizio is currently Deputy Director at the Italy America Chamber of Commerce of Texas where he intends to build a bridge between Italy and Texas as the main route to transfer his experience for the success of the Italian companies in the US. A professional infusing a history of directing state-of-the-art international business, marketing, and sales activities with a robust network of global contacts throughout highly competitive industries/markets, including food and wine, nonprofit, research and development, education, restaurant, and professional services.
Giovanna Leopardi is our Ambassador in Missouri, the Show Me State. Born and raised in Salerno, Italy, Giovanna moved to the US in 1986. In 1993 she obtained a double major in Foreign Languages. Subsequently in 1997 she obtained a Master in French Studies from Saint Louis University. From August 11, 1997 to present has worked for USDA Rural Development as a Program Analyst in the Appeals and Oversight Branch. From 2001 to present Giovanna has been teaching Italian to both adults and children and now directs her own Language Program.
Moving from the US to Italy, Michela Ceccarelli is our Ambassador in Valle d’Aosta. Michela graduated with honors in foreign languages and literatures at the University of Pavia. She is Professor of French Language and Literature in Aosta. On the theme of emigration from Valle d'Aosta abroad, she has published two books: "Emigrés" and "Emigrés 2.0". She is a member of the Istituto Storico della Resistenza e della Società contemporanea della Valle d’Aosta and of the Scientific Committee of Fondazione Emile Chanoux. After an experience in the field of journalism, she is now mainly focused on the organization of events, research and essays on the theme of migration and on the study of Valle d’Aosta history.
Please remember that the 2020 Yearbook of We the Italians is available. It contains 23 interesting interviews – both in English and in Italian - that touch on many topics regarding Italy and the United States: trust me, you won't be disappointed. You can buy it here: please, buy the book! For you, as a gift for friends and family. Please check a preview here. Thanks
And please, check our virtual store. Now you can find more than 20 products in different colors: t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, onesies, mugs, notebooks, pillows, totes, tapestries, pins, laptop and smartphone cases, magnets, stickers, masks. Buy We the Italians!
Well my friends, once again it’s all for now. Please stay safe, please stay healthy. I won’t gonna stop saying this: the future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades! But please, protect yourselves and wear the mask, too. Ciao from Rome
