Giusy Parisi’s ride made a stop in Messina, escorted to the departure from Taormina by a group of employees of the Irccs “BoninoPulejo” led by the general director Maurizio Lanza and the administrative director Maria Felicita Crupi. The 36-year-old blind sportswoman, accompanied by her tandem guide Chiara Ozino, is trying her hand at a tour of Sicily by bicycle. The Messina stage of the initiative called “Tour of Sicily in tandem… blindly” was promoted by the Soroptimist – Club Messina, led by the president Margherita Pandolfo and by the national athletes association Assist. The sporting project includes a route of 1200 km and 23 stages along the entire perimeter of Sicily in four weeks of cycling. Yesterday afternoon at the Royal Giusy Parisi hotel, Chiara Ozino and the blind athlete Antonella Rigano were awarded by Soroptimist and the strategic management of Irccs Neurolesi for their commitment to promoting inclusion through sport.
President Margherita Pandolfo made an excursus on the history of women’s sport, also mentioning Alfonsina Strada, the first Italian professional road cyclist. Giusi Parisi, the blind athlete, spoke about their tour of Italy which began in 2023 and was done to testify and support inclusion, that is, the breaking down of stereotypes about disability, to be considered normal people although with limitations that are not disabling. Chiara Ozino spoke about sharing, that is, an equal relationship, in diversity. These girls use the tandem as an inclusive means of transport and a symbol of their teamwork. The tandem represents a vehicle of emotions and sharing.