VATICAN CITY, MAY 12, 2000 (VIS) - This morning, John Paul II received organizers and participants of the 83rd 'Giro d'Italia' cycle race which starts tomorrow in St. Peter's Square.
"This year's race," said the Pope, "assumes a special significance in the context of the Great Jubilee 2000. ... It could be said that tomorrow's stage is not just the 'prologue' to the 'Giro d'Italia' but constitutes the first stage of the sports peoples' Jubilee which, if God wills, we will have the joy of celebrating together on the last Sunday of October in Rome's Olympic Stadium."
The Holy Father highlighted the relationship "that must always unite sporting activity and spiritual values. (This must) constitute an important opportunity for reflection and renewal so that sport may shine with that clarity, coherence, honesty and spirit of sharing that makes it a meaningful vehicle for the highest values of humanity."
All sporting activity, he added, requires "preparation, constancy in training, awareness of the limits of individual capacity, loyalty in competition, acceptance of precise rules, respect for the opponent and a sense of solidarity and altruism."
John Paul II highlighted that the technical resources used in the race must be put "at the service of the athlete and not vice versa, avoiding useless risks that could be damaging to participants or spectators."
The Pope told the cyclists that he hopes they live this race "animated by authentic 'sportsmanship', in other words by a great competitive passion, but also by a great spirit of sharing and solidarity".
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