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Italy
Exciting sporting facts
The Past
A ball game for three players
As early as 300 BC, the ball game 'Trigon' was played
in Roman baths. Three players stood at the corners of
an equilateral triangle and passed the ball to each
other with the palms of their hands. The players were
not allowed to leave their positions but could, through
feinting manoeuvres, leave their opponents in doubt
as to which one the ball would pass. The ball wasn't
allowed to touch the ground.
Initially, 'Trigon' was a game only for members of the
high society, especially for ladies, youths and older
gentlemen. Often they would bring servants, friends
or slaves to the game. Three people would be in charge
of collecting the balls, and three others were responsible
for keeping scores.
In time, 'Trigon' became very fashionable. Luxury mansions
had special 'Trigon rooms', there were 'Trigon trainers',
and professional players competed at 'Trigon championships'.
Even the emperor played the game, and offered prizes
for the most skilful players.
The Incredible
Extraordinary records
Underwater cycling record
On 12 April, 2000, Vitriol Innocente 'cycled the longest
distance under water ever', in a swimming-pool in Chiavera.
He cycled 1,200 metres in a record time of 23 minutes
and 54 seconds. Innocente's mountain bike was weighted
down by 35 kilograms of lead and by wheels filled with
water.
Caravan of bicycles
The until-then 'biggest bicycle event of all times'
was the Valine Pedala in Udine in 2000. 48,615 cyclists
circled the city on a 29.3 kilometre long circuit.
International sporting events 2004
8 - 30 May: Giro d'Italia
28 September - 3 October: World Road Cycling Championships
in Verona
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Things to do
Uno, due, tre - stella! (One, two, three - star!)
How to play:
One child stands with his/her back to the other children.
The others form a line about 10 or 15 metres away from
him/her.
When the child says, "Uno, due, tre - stella!",
they move towards him/her with small steps until he/she
suddenly turns round.
Anyone who is then still moving has to go back to the
starting point.
The first person to touch the child's back wins.
Known elsewhere as:
In Germany, the game is called "Eins, zwei, drei
- Ochs am Berg!", which means "One, two, three
- ox on the mountain!"
In France, it is known as "Un, deux, trois - soleil!",
which means: "One, two, three - sun!"
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