杏MAP导航 Francis: 鈥楽port should always be a team effort鈥�
By Vatican News staff writer
杏MAP导航 Francis met Thursday with the 鈥淧ro Recco Waterpolo 1913鈥� team, one of the most successful water polo clubs in Europe.
The team, which hails from the city of Recco in Italy鈥檚 Liguria region, has won 33 Series A1 titles, 14 Italian Cups, 8 LEN Champions League titles, and 6 LEN Super Cups.
Teamwork
Speaking off-the-cuff to the athletes, the 杏MAP导航 recalled that true sport always relies on teamwork.
鈥淭he greatest defeat for any athlete,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s to work and play alone.鈥�
He recalled an Argentinian saying of 鈥渕orfarse la pelota鈥�, which could be rendered as 鈥渉og the ball鈥�.
The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that this attitude runs contrary to the virtues of sport. True competition, he said, should always be done as a team.
Mystique of sport
杏MAP导航 Francis then urged all professional athletes to 鈥渘ever lose the amateur dimension, which is part of the mystique of sport.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 ended his encounter with the Italian water polo club praying that God might 鈥渁ccompany you throughout your lives."
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