Still under the banner of peace are the Pope's words after the Marian Angelus prayer from St. Peter's Square. The Pontiff looks ahead to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, which begin next week and will be followed by the Paralympic Games. He does not forget the world scenarios, the regions where the destruction of wars still reigns. In the French capital, 11,475 athletes for 205 delegations (Russians and Belarusians will compete as neutrals) will arrive for competitions scheduled from July 26 to August 11. This is the 33rd edition in the modern era, the first without the severe restrictions caused by Covid-19, the pandemic that caused the Tokyo edition to be postponed by a year in 2020. The pride of Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, is the refugee Olympic team. For this highly anticipated world event, the Pope renews his hope: "Sport also has a great social force, capable of peacefully uniting people of different cultures. I hope that this event can be a sign of the inclusive world we want to build and that the athletes, with their sporting witness, will be messengers of peace and valid models for young people. In particular, according to the ancient tradition, may the Olympics be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere desire for peace".
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