THE LAST FAREWELL. On Monday, August 17, at the church of Sant’Anna in Borgo Palazzo in Bergamo, the funeral of Gianni Sommariva, a life dedicated to cycling: «He organized events not for himself, but to bring people together in a festive atmosphere».
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«A life for cycling» is probably the phrase that best identifies the figure of Gianni Sommariva. And on Monday, August 17, at the funeral of the great Bergamo manager and organizer – celebrated in the church of Sant’Anna in Borgo Palazzo in Bergamo – all the components of the cycling world gave back to him what he had been able to give in over half a century of activity. Coming together with affectionate participation, for the last farewell, to his wife Gisella, his son Ennio, and his daughter Stefania. The funeral was celebrated by the parish priest of Sant’Anna, Don Angelo Domenghini, assisted by Monsignor Mansueto Callioni, who has always been driven by a great passion for cycling. In the homily, Don Angelo painted a portrait of Sommariva, focusing on the term «organizer»: «He was above all – he said – the greatest of the small organizers. Gianni was many things but, I emphasize, he was an organizer. This made me reflect, as I find it very intriguing and easily connected to the Gospel: the ability to love unconditionally yet engagingly. The organizer is not for himself, but for the event that unites athletes, people in a climate of sport and celebration. Sometimes with problems».
The tribute from «his» world
«Gianni – concluded Don Angelo – managed to overcome all these problems. Now may he help and encourage us to do the same». Among the common people – in the front row the collaborators of Sommariva at Domus, the company through which he organized important cycling races for years before embarking on a high-level managerial career within the Federation – numerous prominent personalities from sports and politics, from MP Gilberto Bonalumi to regional councilor Ivan Rota (former rider), from the president of Aci Bergamo Valerio Bettoni to past champions like Gianni Motta, to the president of the Italian Cycling Federation Cordiano Dagnoni, to the regional president Stefano Pedrinazzi, to the president of the Bergamo Committee Claudio Mologni. And then, also, the president of PromoEventi Govanni Bettineschi and numerous former professionals including Corti, Parsani, Algeri, Milani, Maggioni, Nespoli, Rota. The banner of the Italian Cycling Federation was also present in the church.
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The «Week» and the Junior World Championships
His flagship creation was the Bergamo cycling week, and then Lombard, enriched in its early editions by the participation of the strongest amateurs in the world and later reaching the professional level, where it was able to attract champions like Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani. Another highlight of his rich organizational activity were the Junior World Championships on the road, in Bergamo, and on the track, at the Dalmine velodrome.
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