Trieste's Prefect Francesca Garufi is a volleyball fan and shares the quintessential values of the sport that is about to come to town for the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014
Trieste, Italy, September 9, 2014 – During the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 in Trieste “law enforcement will increase its focus on security,” says Prefect Francesca Garufi, who is the State’s representative in the province of Trieste.
“We will closely monitor the event in order to guarantee maximum protection and security; I’m quite sure that, since it’s about volleyball, there won’t be any problems, but we have always to pay the necessary attention to events which involve such a large number of supporters.”
Mrs Garufi conveys confidence and serenity. Her syntax is careful, her words are chosen with care. “The international situation is quite critical and the fact that we are hosting foreign teams in Trieste calls for more attention, because it’s an important event.”
In about two weeks, the national teams of Brazil, Turkey, Cameroon, Bulgaria, Canada and Serbia will be playing in Trieste for the first round of the World Championship. Prefect Francesca Garufi hopes Trieste will welcome a large number of Serbian fans: “Serbian people feel at home here in our city. The Serbian community is one of the largest in Trieste, a multi-ethnic and friendly city, which is especially open towards Balkan people, but not only. The proximity will give Serbian supporters the chance to stay close to their squad."
Mrs Garufi is also interested in volleyball for family reasons. “I have two sisters and my elder sister played volleyball. In the ‘70s, this sport was quite popular in my hometown Catania. Pallavolo Catania, sponsored by Paoletti, was the first Sicilian club to win the Italian national league back in the 1977-78 season."
Trieste’s Prefect wants to enjoy the sports event that will take place at PalaRubini from September 23-October 5. “I will attend at least one match, perhaps when featuring Brazil, which is apparently the strongest team out there; anyway we have to give a chance also to the less decorated squads.”
Mrs Garufi, whose task is to serve the Italian state, shares the harsh and fair law of sport, which ensures victory for the most determined and strong-willed of the competitors. “May the best team win and may their commitment be rewarded,” says the Prefect, “because even though from the outside, sport seems a feast, sportspeople need a lot of passion, engagement and discipline.”
Lastly, Mrs Garufi stressed a historical and cultural aspect of sport: “Sport sublimates a woman's character, in particular in a town such as Trieste, which has a strong tradition of independence and autonomy which dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Already at that time, women went out by themselves and held the reins in their families,” as Prefect Francesca Garufi keeps the reins of law and order in view of the most important sports event hosted in Trieste over the last four years.