User:Aridd/Through the hidden door/Main/Vatican City at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Vatican City at the Olympic Games
2012 Summer
Flag of the Vatican City
IOC code  VAT
NOC Comitato olimpico nazionale di Città del Vaticano
external link (in Italian)
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
Competitors 29 in 5 sports
Flag bearer Federico de Luigi
Medals Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
1


The Vatican City made its Olympic début at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. The National Olympic Committee of the Vatican City (Comitato olimpico nazionale di Città del Vaticano) was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 2010, paving the way for the country's participation in the London Games. The Vatican thus became the smallest country ever to participate in the Olympics.[1]

Jacques Rogge welcomed the participation of Vaticanese athletes: "I know this is an exciting moment for all Vaticanese people. The cream of their athletes may now compete against the best in the world. On behalf of the I.O.C., I extend a warm welcome to the canoeing cardinals, and other eminent sportsmen from the Holy See".[2]

Vaticanese athletes competed in athletics, boxing, canoeing, football, and synchronised swimming. They obtained one medal, a silver, in synchronised swimming.


Medallists edit

Medal Name Sport Event
  Silver Paolo Moretti and Ahmed al-Abdulla Synchronised swimming Men's duet


Athletics edit

Men

Athlete Event Final
Time Rank
Cardinal Enrico Domeniconi Marathon DNF


Boxing edit

Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Matteo Albani Light flyweight   Bollini (ITA)
L 5-12
Did not advance


Canoeing edit

Men

Athlete Event Preliminary Semifinal Final Total Rank
Run 1 Rank Run 2 Rank Total Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Federico de Luigi K-1 98.90 21 97.78 19 196.68 21 Did not advance 21


Football edit

The Vatican City created some measure of surprise by defeating Portugal 2-0 in its opening match. Portuguese coach Jorge Ramos subsequently suggested that his players had been torn between their desire to win, and the fear that scoring goals against "God's football team" might constitute blasphemy.[3]

The Vatican then went on to lose to São Tomé and Príncipe and San Marino without scoring any further goals.

Men Group Stage

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Portugal 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6
  São Tomé and Príncipe 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 6
  San Marino 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 3
  Vatican City 3 1 0 2 2 7 −5 3



Synchronised swimming edit

The Vatican entered only one male duet in synchronised swimming. Vaticanese competitors Paolo Moretti and Ahmed al-Abdulla were crowd favourites, and impressed judges with their routine, obtaining the silver medal, behind the gold-winning duet from Saudi Arabia. The event attracted some media interest due to al-Abdulla, a Saudi by birth, having obtained Vaticanese citizenship only a short while before the Games.[4]

Men's duet

Athlete Event Technical Routine Free Routine (Preliminary) Free Routine (Final)
Points Rank Points Rank Total Points Rank Points Rank Total Points Rank
Paolo Moretti
Ahmed al-Abdulla
Duet 49.334 2 49.500 1 98.834 2 Q 49.917 2 99.251  


References edit

  1. ^ "Vatican City", International Olympic Committee
  2. ^ "Vatican City", International Olympic Committee
  3. ^ "Vatican pulls off miracle against Portugal", AFP
  4. ^ "World discovers Vatican's silver boys", AFP