Montali launches the Ryder 2022, it will be a historic event

(by Federico Colosimo)

(ANSA) - ROME, NOVEMBER 26 - The Ryder Cup 2022 is a dream event "that remains in history, achievable when awake. Without spending a single euro public allocated by the government as state guarantee". Gian Paolo Montali, general manager of the Ryder Cup 2022 project, at ANSA unveils ideas and concrete projects of the Europe-US challenge that is destined to leave its mark.
For the CEO of the European Tour, Keith Pelley, the Italian Ryder will be "a festival beyond sport. The intention - he explained from Dubai on the occasion of the DP World Tour Championship - is to create a 360-degree event". Destined to enhance the beauties of Rome. From the "One year before" celebrations at the Colosseum, to the two captains in audience by the Pope to the Vatican, passing through the gala dinner in an iconic place, "perhaps - explains Montali - at the Baths of Caracalla between history, sport and culture". And again: a "Road to Rome" in via della Conciliazione and the opening ceremony at Marco Simone, the scene of the super challenge. And then a competition between the best American and European starred chefs, from Gordon Ramsay to Chicco Cerea, as well as exceptional testimonials such as Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Andrea Pirlo who could play the "celebrity" competition where, explains Montali, "it would be great to have Mario Draghi, a keen golfer, too." With the concrete desire to see Tiger Woods play an Italian Open. "Together with the president Fig Franco Chimenti - reveals Montali - in Dubai, in the last event 2019 of the Eurotour, we met the RCE board. It was an opportunity to illustrate projects and initiatives that everyone was enthusiastic about. iconic event, for everyone, that enhances Rome and remains in history ". Italy, in the context of an eternal derby with France, is ready to show off its beauty. Paris showed up with Team Europe and USA captains (Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk) hurling a tee shot from the Eiffel Tower. Then he organized a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. The Eternal City has no intention of being outdone. "We will bring the two captains to the Colosseum - reveals Montali - and then to the Vatican from the Pope." The gala dinner? It would be great to organize it at the Baths of Caracalla. The event will be a mix of sport and culture where the unique image of "Rome. Our ideas are feasible and achievable. Paris has lived little since the Ryder 2018, Rome will be the fulcrum of the event".
The question of viability seems to worry public opinion but not Montali. "In these years we have always dealt with apparently insurmountable problems. Thanks to the teamwork with the Lazio Region and the Municipality of Rome and for this I want to thank the president Nicola Zingaretti, the mayor Virginia Raggi and their respective teams. We are working in synergy to rise to the occasion and make everyone understand our degree of ability to organize events beyond sport.
The Ryder 2022 will leave an important legacy for Rome and the whole Lazio region. Enlarging the streets, building roundabouts, unlocking work on the Tiburtina, is essential. Through a sports competition we work to improve infrastructure. For 8 months we have been monitoring every street and intersection that leads to Marco Simone and everything is done in an objective way ". Ryder for the future, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the present.
Montali as coach of the Italian national volleyball team, among the many medals (two European golds) he also won a silver in Athens 2004 and for the Japanese campaign he focuses on the Azzurri and in particular on Francesco Molinari who, after the Masters disappointment, met difficulty along its way, overflowing in 2018: "It can aspire to gold and certainly to win a medal. In my life I have won so much because I lost a lot. The defeats are preparatory to success and make you discover the weaknesses on which to work Molinari is a brave athlete and I am sure he will soon return to excel.
The Games for each Federation and athlete represent the most important objective at a competitive level ". The blue movement towards the Ryder 2022 flies, in 2019 over 40 international successes and prestigious awards. Virginia Elena Carta, for the NCAA success with Duke University, was received at the White House by Donald Trump. "An enormous satisfaction - explains Montali - for the whole of FIG starting with President Chimenti." Many desires to be realized on the journey to the Ryder, among these to bring Woods to play an Italian Open. "I have been working for years - admits Montali - and I can say this is a dream that can be realized from awake. He is the Michael Jordan of basketball and the Maradona of football. He has an important cachet and we are working with several companies to verify the feasibility of the operation. I would also like Woods to make Italy understand the importance of a sports phenomenon. In Rome he could play the role of Captain of the USA Team and this could facilitate our task. With a possible appointment as leader of the stars and stripes expedition he would be 'obliged' to see the field. Having it at the Open would be a unique opportunity ". (ANSA).