Athletes set to walk into sold-out San Paulo Stadium

NAPOLI –The athletes marching into San Paulo Stadium later this evening can expect a full house as tickets to the closing ceremony are sold out.

More than 35,000 spectators are expected to attend the final show, created and produced by Balich Worldwide Shows, under the direction of Stefania Opipari. Taking inspiration from the typically Neapolitan tradition of “caffé sospeso” (“suspended coffee”), the ceremony will serve as a send-off to both Naples and Campania.

The colours of the flags of the 111 Countries that competed in the 30^th Summer Universiade to enliven San Paolo Stadium, once again the main character of a spectacular show with its brand-new look.

Hosted by The Jackal and accompanied by musical performances by artists such as Mahmood, Clementino, DJ Sonic and many more, this great celebration of sport and understanding will end in a majestic firework display, lighting up the sky of Napoli with a ceremony that aims to leave its mark worldwide after putting out the Universiade cauldron’s flame.

The visit from Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is much anticipatd, as the president will sit in the tribunes alongside FISU President Oleg Matytsin. The region president, Vincenzo De Luca, and mayor of Naples, Luigi De Magistris, will be present.

During the ceremony there will also be a tribute to Mrs. Manuela Oliveri, widow of Italian sports legend Pietro Mennea who, exactly sixty years ago, and set the 200m world record at the Mexico City 1979 Summer Universiade. Known as the “Arrow of the South,” Mennea’s time of 19.72 in the 200m lasted in the record books until Michael Johnson of the USA broke it at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics by 6/100ths of a second.

Child actresses Ludovica Nasti, Elisa Del Genio, Gaia Girace and Margherita Mazzucco, more commonly known as Lila and Lenu’ from the hit tv series “L’amica geniale” (“My Brilliant Friend”), will be the show’s special guests.

But, as always, the athletes of the Summer Universiade will be the true stars of the show – just as they have been for the past twelve days, competing over 220 medal events.

Look for the Brasilians to make a fashionable entrance into the closing ceremony of the 30th Summer Universiade, just like they did here to open the event in San Paulo Stadium