Cip, Valori withdraws: Giunio De Sanctis sole candidate

Peace returns to the Cip, the Italian Paralympic Committee , while the situation at Coni, in view of the elections on June 26, is still confused (see Spy Calcio of May 22). Roberto Valori , with respect to what was announced, has decided that he will not present his candidacy for the presidency of the Cip. The former president of the Paralympic Swimming Federation, now deputy vice president of the same Cip and a trusted man of Luca Pancalli, has communicated his decision through a joint note with Marco Giunio De Sanctis , current president of the Italian Bowls Federation , who thus remains at the moment the sole candidate to succeed Luca Pancalli . The Cip candidacies close shortly, on June 5, and the elections will be held at Acqua Acetosa on June 26, the same day as the Coni.

“The electoral dispute has created a rift within the movement – ​​is the thought shared by Valori and De Sanctis – and the unitary solution represents a responsible choice, also in light of the outcome of the primary elections of Fsp, athletes, technicians, promotion bodies, associated disciplines, worthy associations, aimed at immediately guaranteeing vision and perspective to the Committee, also given our complementarity”. The confrontation between the two candidates and the resulting decisions therefore testify to the common will to put the future of the body before personal positions and choices.

Valori will contribute to the identification of personalities who can enrich, in terms of experience and skills, the governance of the Paralympic Committee and will make himself available, if necessary, with proposals and ideas for the future of the movement. “I thank the team that has supported me in these weeks. I felt I had to take a step back when I perceived that the conflict generated by the electoral debate would have a negative impact on the movement even after the vote was over. The Paralympic movement is my second family. I have dedicated a large part of my life to it and I believe that its future is more important than personal destinies and ambitions. With De Sanctis we have chosen the path of dialogue and I hope that the shared solution will be an example and a good omen for the challenges that await the Committee”, said Valori. A choice by a manager who is close to the heart of the CIP.

"Roberto Valori, whom I have known for over 40 years, in the aftermath of the last CIP elections, for the next National Council, asked me for a meeting to reunite the movement and propose his possible support for the future programs of the Committee. I immediately accepted his proposal for the good of the Paralympic movement and for our very long and fruitful collaboration within the CIP, I in my role as general secretary and he as Finp president and member of the National Council. I am sure that the entire Paralympic world will appreciate this common intent of ours, which eases so many tensions and controversies that are absolutely superfluous in this epochal phase of succession to the governance of the CIP and is aimed at giving new impetus and credibility to the entire movement", declared De Sanctis.

The Cip is a public body that has grown a lot in recent years thanks to Pancalli's work, and not only in terms of (amazing) results at the Paralympics. Now Pancalli is aiming for Coni and De Sanctis, who knows the world of the Cip well, is ready to take his place. Sport cannot have a majority and opposition: they must all go in the same direction.