The Vatican has launched its own athletics team with the aim of competing in international competitions like the Olympics.
The move reportedly follows an agreement with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) under which the team can take part in nationally and internationally sanctioned events and access Italian national coaching and medical facilities.
The Vatican Athletics team so far numbers about 60 people including nuns, priests, Swiss Guards and other staff at the Holy See. The youngest is reportedly a 19-year-old Swiss Guard and the oldest a 62-year-old professor at the Vatican Apostiolic Library. Two young Muslim asylum seekers have also been registered as honorary members.
While attendance at the Olympic Games is “the dream” according to the president of Vatican Athletics, Monsignor Melchor José Sánchez de Toca y Alameda, in the short term the team is aiming to compete in smaller events like the Mediterranean Games.
Members of the team’s launch last week were reportedly wearing navy blue tracksuits with the crossed keys seal of the Holy See on them.
The team’s first official event will take place later this month when members take part in a 10 kilometre race in Rome.
