Vincenzo Camporini, Chief of Defense Staff, Mario Pescante, Vice-President of the CIO, Prince Albert II of Monaco and two of the best Italian athletes of sky Giorgio Rocca and Marco Albarello will participate at the opening ceremony.

(Aosta, March 18th 2010) -  Alexander Ploner, Max Blardone, Manfred Moelgg, Federica Brignone, Denise Karbon, Manuele Moelgg, Nicole Gius, Giorgio Di Centa, Pietro Piller Cottrer, Fabio Pasini, Thomas Moriggl, Marianna Longa, Silvia Rupil, Magda Genuin, Mattia Cola, Marcus Windisch, Karin Oberhofer, Christian Martinelli, Roberta Fiandino, Roberto Serra, Arianna Fontana, Katia Zini, with Giuliano Razzoli, Vancouver golden medal, as standard bearer, will represent Italy at the athletes parade at the Opening Ceremony of the first edition of the Winter Military World Games Aosta Valley 2010 on Saturday March 20th. The ceremony will start at 5 p.m. in Piazza Chanoux, Aosta.

The athletes will be accompanied by the following authorities: Vincenzo Camporini, Capo di Stato Maggiore della Difesa Generale, Giorgio Rocca, the great alpine skiing champion, Augusto Rollandin, President of the self-government region Aosta Valley, Aurelio Marguerettaz, Councillor of Tourism, Sports and Trade, Gianni Gola, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Rinaldo Sestili, Chief of the Italian Delegation for CISM and Sports Manager of General Defense Staff, and Luigi Roth, President of the Organizing Committee.

“I am proud to have been appointed as standard bearer for this first edition of the Winter Military World Games Aosta Valley 2010 - said Giuliano Razzoli – I hope I will be able to deserve this honor and to pay homage to this wonderful event by trying to repeat the Vancouver Olympic success with a great race on Pila’s tracks”.

The Opening Ceremony is going to start with an element of surprise: the dropping of a couple of paratroopers with the Italian flag and the flight of military planes, which is going to anticipate the parade of all the teams involved in the Games. The Taurinense musical band will introduce the paratroopers.

The official speeches of Mr. Rollandin, President of the Region, Mr. Roth, President of the Organizing Committee and Mr. Gola, President of General CISM will follow the parade and will officially open the Games. The Ceremony will end with the lightning of the brazier by the torch-bearer, Marco Albarello, an Olympic Nordic skiing champion. The brazier will be a tripod with a particular shape which represents traditions and culture from Aosta Valley. It is a three meter high Friendship Cup, made of wood.

The International “Sport and Peace” Forum will open the worldwide event at 9 in the morning. The Forum will take place at the Regional Palace in Aosta, where Mario Pescante, vice president of CIO, and Prince Albert II of Monaco are going to participate. A sign of the military sporting resolution will be used as a mean to solve conflicts peacefully .

The athletes press conference will be held at 3 p.m. at the Region Palace. During the conference two athletes for each team will participate: Max Bardone and Manfred Moelgg, representing the Financial Police; Roberta Fiandino and Giuliano Razzoli, representing the Army; Federica Brignone and Christian Martinelli representing Carabinieri.