2006: The Italians, the best-looking Champions of the World

In Ancient Rome, winning athletes were decorated with a laurel wreath. This was a symbol of success, and has since become an icon of victory worldwide. The national emblems of many countries of the world still include the laurel wreath as a sign of power and victory to this day. This symbol can also be found in many other occasions, adorning the heads of emperors and poets, for example.

Power in life is the possibility of winning. Victory cannot only be obtained by means of physical strength, but also thanks to other, more subtle devices: the power of communication through words; the power of seduction. In ancient times heroes ought to have been beautiful, and therefore successful in love as well.

The power of seduction is as important as physical prowess. There are many examples of men and women who changed the face of the history because of their charm. One such person was Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen, who is said to have saved her position, and the destiny of her country because Julius Cesar, the Roman Emperor (who had conquered Egypt at the time), was enticed by her perfect nose.

The Italians won the FIFA World Cup last Sunday. It is not surprising that they have already become an icon of success, and are acclaimed today as the most successful sports team in the world, not only thanks to their tactical and technical mastery of the game, but also for their sex-appeal, aided by beautiful Italian clothing.

The above photograph has been displayed all around Italy for weeks, and is an ad for a famous Italian fashion brand. This message is a classic of communication manuals: “Buy the underwear that the Italian National Team wears, and you will, in a way, replicate their success”. The Italian champions incarnate who a man would like to be and whom a woman would like to be courted by: a vivid, yet very gentlemanly young titan, caught in a glimpse of intimacy in one of the forbidden temples of unconfessable dreams: the stadium’s changing room. Shouldn’t we adorn these “demi-gods” with the golden laurel of victory as a tribute in our minds?

© Mr. Paolo Sabbatini, Director of Italian Cultural Institute at Consulate General of Italy, 2006.