Israeli authorities welcome Giro d’Italia in Jerusalem

Shalev and Gioia Bartali

Jerusalem, 2 May 2018 – Stage 1 of the 101st Giro d’Italia is dedicated to Gino Bartali, the former champion who was awarded the honour of ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ on 10 October 2003, three years after he passed away. His name is engraved on the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous in the Yad Vashem Memorial in Jerusalem. On the occasion of the first-ever Big Start of the Giro d’Italia outside of Europe, the great Italian cyclist has been made honorary citizen of Israel by the country’s authorities. Yad Vashem chairman Avner Shalev presented the certificate of Commemorative Citizenship to his grand-daughter, Gioia Bartali, in the presence of Italian ambassador to Israel Gianluigi Benedetti and Honorary President of Giro d’Italia Big Start Sylvan Adams.

Big Start opening Press Conference
The Giro d’Italia 2018 Big Start opening Press Conference was held this morning at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Headquarters. The Israeli authorities welcomed the Giro d’Italia in Jerusalem.

The speakers were Miri Regev, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sport; Yariv Levin, Israel’s Minister of Tourism; Zeev Elkin, Israel’s Minister of Jerusalem and Heritage; Zohar Dvir, Israel’s Deputy Police Commissioner; Sylvan Adams, Honorary President Big Start Israel; Daniel Benaim, Project Director Big Start Israel and Comtecgroup CEO; Paolo Bellino, RCS Sport Managing Director; and Mauro Vegni, Giro d’Italia Director.

left: Zohar Dvir, Seek Elkin, Sylvan Adams, Paolo Bellino, Yariv Levin, Miri Regev, Mauro Vegni and Daniel Benaim

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Photo Credits: LaPresse – D’Alberto / Ferrari / Paolone / Alpozzi