Fraternity in sports

Sara Carnicelli won third place in the 5000 meters at the Championships of the Small States of Europe, on Saturday, 11 June, in Malta in a historic moment for Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See’s sports team. It is the first official international win, brought home by the 27-year-old athlete, the daughter of Vatican employee Giancarlo Carnicelli. With a time of 17’09”77, Sara Carnicelli finished the race behind Lilia Fisikovoci, representing Moldova (16’42”11) and Iris Anna Skuladottir from Iceland (17’09”10). In accordance with an agreement between Athletica Vaticana, European Athletics and the Athletic Association of Small States of Europe, Carnicelli was not supposed to receive the medal nor stand on the podium. Instead, she was to pass it on to the athlete who came in fourth, in this case Roberta Schembri (17’23”66). It is Vatican ...