Italians in the World Honoured

Foundation awards prizes to Bevilacqua and others who have exported the Italian spirit

Sophia Loren, a national glory of Italy, was recently honoured for exporting the Italian spirit during her long acting career. She was awarded one of the prizes presented at the third edition of the Premio per gli Italiani nel Mondo. Other recipients of the prizes include Maurizio Bevilacqua, the Canadian Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions and one of the 353 MPs of Italian origin all over the world; Barbara Ensoli, a scientist working for Istituto Superiore di Sanità in developing vaccines against HIV; Maestro Antonio Pappano, musical director of the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden; and Roberto Ruggieri, an entrepreneur who exported the best of Italian gastronomy under the brand name Bice; sir James Gobbo, former Governor of the State of Victoria, Australia; father Luciano Segafreddo, foreign editor of Messaggero di Sant'Antonio; Mauro Ferrari, a researcher at Ohio State University; race pilot Rubens Barrichello; the Rocca family, one of the most important in the world of international business; and Lawrence Auriana, Chair of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia presented a tribute to the memory of Guglielmo Marconi to the scientist's daughter, Princess Elettra, while special prizes were given to Renzo Piano and Nino Manfredi (Lino Banfi presented the prize to Manfredi's wife Erminia).
"I saw Nino just yesterday," told Banfi, who often visits the hospital where Manfredi has been recovering since early July, "and I managed to make him smile. He says everything with his eyes and hands. He's undergoing intensive care now, but whenever he's a little less tired, he reacts very well to everything."
Many of these distinguished Italians - including a very late Mrs. Loren - had previously attended a presentation of the event held in Palazzo Chigi. During the presentation Tremaglia called himself "a politician who does his job with feelings and a heart."
He remembered the extraordinary emotion he felt in June, when he sneaked out of the hospital to go to Fiumicino airport and welcome the plane carrying the first ever ballots cast by Italians living abroad for the referenda.
According to data reported by many Italian diplomatic representations all over the world, the referenda showed a good ballot return.
This happened also in Toronto.
"Every ballot was a love message," said Tremaglia, who never fails to underscore his satisfaction for the return percentages.
The prize has been established by Fondazione Marzio Tremaglia, and is of course particularly dear to Minister for Italians Abroad Mirko Tremaglia.
The prize-giving ceremony was televised live and hosted by Pippo Baudo and former Miss Italia Roberta Capua. "This show has a very high moral significance," declared Baudo, "because this is no variety show: these prizes are awarded to people who strove to succeed and give lustre to the name of Italy. It is also a great pleasure to meet Sophia, a dear friend of mine."
"Italians are the best ambassadors, smart and creative," said Sophia Loren: clad in a black suit, wearing a necklace of gold and red coral, escorted by her sister Maria Scicolone and welcomed by vice Premier Gianfranco Fini,
Secretary of State Maurizio Bevilacqua was in Rome with his wife and children.
The audience included ministers Sirchia, Lunardi, and Alemanno, and politicians Gianni Letta, Paolo Bonaiuti, Achille Serra, Renato Schifani, Mauro Masi, Francesco Storace, and Maria Pia Garavaglia. There were also Carlo Rubbia, Gianni Rivera, and many members of the show business, ranging from Gigi D'Alessio to Paola Saluzzi, Franco Nero to Lino Banfi, Giorgio Albertazzi to Uto Ughi.
"This Prize," declared minister Tremaglia, "is a duty, but a heartfelt one, to repay a debt of gratitude to people who honour our country and represent a precious resource of Italy all over the world."
President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi sent Tremaglia a message that read: "The Premio Italiani nel Mondo renews, within the solemn frame of the Vittoriano, the attention paid by our institutions to our fellow nationals living abroad. Their commitment contributes to the valorization of our patrimony of civilization, culture, and traditions, the founding element of our identity. The excellence displayed by the award recipients in the fields of art, science, research, business, and institutions, testifies of the polyhedral richness of Italian success all over the world."

Publication Date: 2003-09-14
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3138