Piazza Carlo III packed up. Over 1700 participants. A city that is tinged with crimson. Running pace and feathers in the wind. Children, adults, sportsmen and professionals. All together for a two-day casertana full of sport.
Established in the 1991, the "Flik Flok" is the sporting event that preserves and transmits the traditions of a specialty born of "race". Conceived as a purely military competition, the platoons of the brigade units took part, with the aim of being able to cover the distance of fifteen kilometers in the shortest possible time. From military tradition to sporting event extended to the civil world.
The event, chaired by the general of division Antonio Vittiglio, commander of the division Acqui, Brigadier General Nicola Terzano, commander of the bersaglieri brigade Garibaldi, by the mayor of the city of Caserta Carlo Marino, by the provincial delegate of the Coni Michele De Simone, by the regional president FIDAL, Sandro Del Naia and by the president of ASD Army Garibaldi Sports Group, Colonel Domenico Ciotti, began with the inauguration of the "crimson village" in Piazza Carlo III at the foot of the majestic Royal Palace of Caserta, on Saturday 22.
The citizens of Caserta were very enthusiastic to attend the numerous programmed initiatives, including the musical performance of the 8 band of the Bersaglieri regiment and the band of the US Naval Forces Europe Band of theAllied Joint Force Command Naples, together with numerous cultural, artistic and sporting events, accompanied by singing entertainments and fashion shows, with particular attention to social issues. During the two days, in fact, a fundraising campaign was carried out in favor of the SOFIA Association (Operative Support Italian Assisted Families) for the purchase of a pediatric respirator to be allocated to the San Sebastiano Hospital of Caserta. An organizational effort that required the commitment of more than 200 military brigade Garibaldi.
The 2017 edition, in addition to being a consolidated FIDAL event open to Italian professional citizens, has opened the 10 km on the road to all the soldiers in service, thus making it a valid race for the Army Military Championship which saw the participation of athletes of the caliber of Elena Romagnolo, Manuel Cominotto, Valentina Costanza, Christine Santi and Merihum Meriun Crespi del Army Sports Center. Two paths designed, with reduced difficulty, for enthusiasts and children: the five kilometers and one thousand meters to go with "mum, dad and your dog". A way to sensitize and involve families too, bringing them closer to the world of the Army in general and, in particular, to that of a brigade rooted in the territory to which citizenship has always shown a particular attachment.
"An event that again this year we wanted to strongly re-propose in Caserta, a moment of aggregation for citizens in uniform or not - General Terzano said - whose organization is based on three pillars: the family, as the basis of our society and its future through its young people; sport for its universal language, an instrument of growth for children thanks to its fundamental principles: respect for the rules and that of others; solidarity that must always be present even in moments of play".
General Vittiglio who in the past has commanded the brigade and knows well the spirit of the race, remembering the strong territorial link between the Army, Garibaldi and Campania Region, wanted to thank all the soldiers who are currently engaged in various activities at home and abroad and their families, concrete support of each man and woman in uniform.
The 23 racing event kicked off with the ceremony on the flag of the United States of America and the Italian hymn, played by Fanfara and the US Navy Band. Attention to the new generations also manifested itself with the presence of 85 special apprentices court judges, pupils of Liceo Manzoni of Caserta, engaged with Flik Flok through the project "work alternance school".
The 10 km, had as winner in the men's category Manuel Cominotto, with a time of 00: 31: 05 and in the women's, Christine Santi, 00: 35: 22, both of the Army Sports Center. The competitive race which, for some time, has been valid as the "Italian Army Championship" of male / female road racing was open to all soldiers in service and, among the over 200 registered, Caminotto themselves were the first to cross the finish line and Saints.,
To hand over the trophy to the first classified overall the general division Giuseppenicola Tota of the General Staff Army, former commander of the "Garibaldi", who subsequently greeted and rewarded the oldest of the participants, Mr. Mario Assirelli class 1939.
An event that allowed direct contact with the bersaglieri spirit and the military traditions that accompanied him from the foundation of the body. An important moment of aggregation between art and culture of sport, a new way of observing the city from a different perspective, the privileged one of the "running pace".
Curiosity: because Flik Flok
The name given to the initiative originates from the Bersaglieri anthem, composed by Luigi Hertel, and was arranged in the current text by Maestro Cuconato in 1886, on the words of the poet Gastaldi. The lucky and well-known song has the power to immediately evoke the image of the bersagliere in his athletic shot, inciting the participants to the race and the friendly competition, as well as the spirit of tradition handed down for over one hundred and seventy years.
