For the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, the cause for which people are running is more important than the prize per se.

“Today it is important to run in the race, to understand how important it is to give a helping hand to each other. No one can manage all alone. We all need a helping hand, someone to listen to us, a mind to reason with us and someone to encourage us all the time,” he said.
Veliaj added that the purpose of such activities is to give everyone a chance.

“We like to give everyone a chance, despite the fact that some will go to the world championships and Olympic games, while others have to win the small daily battles. We want our sports federations to foster this mentality, to give everyone an opportunity to get involved, to feel that they are part of this city,” he said.

The mayor also thanked the Italian Embassy that launched the culture weeks for this year in Tirana. “The Italian week of culture is the activity that we hold dear to our heart, and that we have really devoted a lot of energy to make it as beautiful as possible and that the children, our wonderful angels, enjoy it immensely. I am very happy because all embassies have their cultural weeks but mainly the cultural weeks are intended to promote their country,” he said.

“It is one of those cases where it is important to participate. I will also participate, I will probably not cross the finish line first, yet it is a pleasure being the last to cross the finish line,” said Ambassador Bucci.
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