For the eightieth anniversary of Gigi Riva's birth, the city of Cagliari is preparing to host a special event dedicated to him: the Gigi Riva Football Week. From 5 to 10 November, the capital will host a series of events (with free admission) that will combine sport, art and culture, to tell the story of the man behind the myth and his indissoluble bond with Sardinia .

A "people's celebration", in the week in which Riva would have turned eighty, where the figure of the champion who passed away last January 22nd will be told in a modern language, to involve even the youngest as well as those who lived the unforgettable moments of Cagliari, champion of Italy. The protagonists will also be children, football schools and young people of the area, to bring the values of loyalty, sacrifice and passion to future generations, while as entertainment there will be many activities with a space linked to street soccer .

The Gigi Riva Football Week will be followed with particular attention by the L'Unione Sarda Group with L'Unione Sarda, Videolina, Radiolina and unionesarda.it, for a week that will see the participation of numerous guests who will pay homage to the Myth . "How wonderful would it have been to celebrate his 80th birthday? Why not do it?", is the question that led Giorgio Pitzianti, creative director of the event, to create this initiative. "It all started like this, with this thought and with the desire to also be close to the family in a moment that will certainly bring nostalgic memories and for them it will be particularly sad but I like to look at the immortality not only of the legend but also of the man. As Sardinia was able to support that young man from Leggiuno who arrived in Cagliari at 18 years old marked by mourning, so the same people will do with their children and will remember him forever as one of us, the greatest and who made us great".

Among the partners of the event - sponsored by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Cagliari - also Cagliari Calcio. "We immediately showed enthusiasm for this event, ambitious and dutiful in its celebratory and commemorative intentions of an eternal symbol, the greatest", the words of Stefano Melis, general manager of the rossoblù company . "From the distant 1963, with the very young arrival to bring Cagliari and Cagliari to Serie A for the first time, to the sad days of his farewell that at the same time definitively gave us back the meaning of Riva for Sardinia, Cagliari, the entire Italian and international football. In the eyes his goals, his example, the devotion of the people everywhere, and still today the celebrations where he rests, the continuous references. It would have been magnificent to celebrate 80 years together with Gigi, unfortunately he has left us but also for this reason the Week will be a new chapter of a journey alongside him, that we will never tire of living fully ".

(Unioneonline / r. sp.)

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