Dedicated to former European Parliament President David Sassoli, the fourth Ventotene Natalonga for Europe was held on Saturday, July 23, 2022. As has become customary, nearly a hundred athletes swam the 1,700 meters separating the island of Santo Stefano from Calanave beach to reaffirm the founding values of the European Union.
After a third edition that, in 2021, was the occasion to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the "Manifesto for a Free and United Europe" by Altiero Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi and Eugenio Colorni, the Natalonga was held this year against a backdrop of war, while, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the worst memories of the last century threaten Europe.
Godmother of the event, writer Helena Janeczek, Strega Prize winner for the novel The Girl with the Laica (Ed Guanda). "It was exciting, so many swimmers together, each with their own time, no one was left behind." It was she who gave the "ready, go!" to the event after reasoning about the words that unite Europeans on Friday evening in the square at the meeting entitled "Telling Europe.
Natalonga 2022 is dedicated to David Sassoli
With the awakening of sovereignisms, we are again navigating dark waters, the political unknown where the need for Europe will be felt. The Ventotene Manifesto was written to overcome conflicts and build a space of peace and democracy that was realized through the European Union on the basis of shared principles. Today, unlike in the past, none of the 27 members of the EU would dream of militarily colonizing territories as Putin does.
"Europeans are in love with democracy, freedom and want to express their opinions when fundamental values are being violated in Russia and in so many parts of the world. We will not be intimidated."
In April 2021, David Sassoli thus responded to Moscow's decision to ban him from entering the country. And to the president of the European Parliament who passed away in January, we chose to dedicate the 2022 edition of our Natalonga, with a portrait created by cartoonist Gianluca Costantini exclusively for europanow!
Watch Rainews24 coverage and live coverage dedicated to Natalonga
The 7:30 p.m. Edition of TGR Lazio on Saturday, 07/23/2022
The 4th edition is part of the PaMe - Paths of Memory project, which involves Italy, Slovenia, France and Germany
This year's event is part of the PaMe - Paths of Memory project, conceived by europaNow! and supported by the European Commission under Erasmus+ Sport, which involves Italy, Slovenia, France and Germany.
And from this year the Natalonga is doubling! In addition to the July event on the Pontine island, a sister swim is scheduled for September 3 in Lerici, Liguria.
Take a look at the previous editions to learn more!
