June 14, 1984: an accident at work leads him to watch the world from a wheelchair. Exactly thirty-eight years later he takes everything back, starting from the end to get to the beginning. Oscar De Pellegrin, 59 years old, former Paralympic athleteis the first mayor with disabilities in Italy.
“When it happened I was twenty and I thought it was the end.” Instead it was the beginning. Of a path that would have led him to travel – strictly on 4 wheels – along the paths of sport, social life, associations, management. Until becoming mayor of Belluno. To those who immediately asked her how he would do it, he replied: «I’m ready».
Ready for a more inclusive policy?
“I am ready to build a more mature city in accepting diversity and discomfort”.
Surprisingly, the ballot did not even help. What do you think convinced the people of Belluno?
“I wondered too. I think on the one hand my loyalty, the non-warlike line that I have always wanted to keep, on the other hand the desire for change. I feel I am the bearer of a new way of doing politics and administration “
Thirty-eight years ago exactly the accident: what do you remember?
«I remember everything in detail, it is part of me. It is the encounter with a destiny that I did not choose but I had to accept before discovering how many doors of wonder it could open to me. It’s incredible but that tragedy, for me, was a springboard ».
He opened the doors of sport to her, making her champion in both archery and rifle shooting and top name in 6 Paralympics. Then you have the executive roles within Coni, Cip and Fitarco and today politics. Her list, although civic but center-right oriented, has conquered a municipality in the center-left. What do you answer to those who accused your fellow citizens of a good-natured vote?
«I have always had respect for my opponents, even if I have received less. I believe that many words are not needed, the facts will tell who I am as mayor ».
What is listening to?
“After two years of a pandemic with no social life, people want to be heard. So I imagined a place where people could tell us about problems and bring ideas. A bit of an outlet, a bit of a place for concrete proposals ».
How do you imagine the city of the future?
“There is a lot to do, creating a city for everyone means thinking not only of someone like me who is in a wheelchair but also of the mother with the stroller, of the grandfather with the cane”.
And the house of skills?
“A dream I’ve had in mind for some time. The first problem for those living with a physical or mental disability is loneliness. A structure that creates interaction between the disadvantaged is a passage of independence and essential happiness ».
You will be the mayor of the Milan Cortina2026 Olympics and Paralympics. What will you ask the Committee?
“Belluno as the capital must be a co-star of this event”.
Bebe Vio, Alex Zanardi and now Oscar De Pellegrin. Sports figures who have an increasingly strong impact on society. What do you have in common?
“The will to live, the courage not to stop, the choice not to resign oneself to destiny”.
Do you dedicate your victory to someone?
“To my wife, my strength and my compass.”
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Source: Vanity Fair
