Mario Pescante Quotations

Like every foreigner who commits a crime in Italy, she can go back to her country because the criminal process against her hasn't begun yet.

One of our most famous songs is 'O Sole Mio.' It's not about the mountains; it's about the sun, the sky. Our mountains are near the borders up north, and those are the areas where winter sports are big. Really, only about a quarter of the country is into those sports.

Police will not enter the village. This is not going to happen.

I don't know the details, it's not my business,

I expected a strong reaction to my proposal, but now I'm being treated as a lobbyist for dopers,

Certain athletes make certain sports more popular. I think that's the case above all with Tomba.

I am going to see the President of the IOC Jacques Rogge in two days time ... I am going to give him the latest update on the situation, suffice to say I am optimistic.

Parliament doesn't intend making changes to the law,

I will speak with him about doping. We are optimistic.

Penal sanctions are O.K. for those that peddle ... For athletes, sporting sanctions are much more severe.

It is important that there is full unity of intent and that next Monday we shall be able to enter definitively into a new phase, entirely dedicated to sport.

I will speak with (Rogge) about doping, ... We are optimistic.

Unfortunately, referring to recent events, we are forced to add certain countries (to the special needs list). We have done everything possible.

I was optimistic and now I am happy that we have found a solution that respects Italian law but eliminates all the dangers we faced.

We must respect the rules of the IOC, ... The IOC fears police raids in the athletes' village.

The procedures will go ahead and who has done wrong will pay.

We're looking to find possibly the same equipment Mr. Mayer had in his private residence in Austria.

We are working. There is always a solution.

We have found a solution ? within three or four days it will be communicated.

What happens now? I haven't got a clue.

What happens now, I haven't the slightest idea,

We are preparing very well but it is not possible to be 100 percent secure.

At the moment he is not in Italy. We were looking to find the same equipment (as in Austria).

The Treasury's plan ... will have to be changed because we've made commitments internationally and we must defend our image abroad.

You can't change Italian law. But everyone agrees that there could be a moratorium during the games. We are preparing legislation to put into effect exclusively during the games.

The tickets have been sold, but maybe the spectators have preferred to go somewhere else.

It would be very serious, but nobody actually believes it will happen. We're hoping a cabinet meeting tomorrow will help us out.

There will not be a change to the law, but we have found a solution to the law, a provision, something like that.

Up until yesterday we were preparing an Olympics, starting today we are organizing.

Always the control in Italy has been very, very strict. MPs consider any type of moratorium a sign of weakness.

Personally I am opposed to sending athletes to jail for doping. We need to apply the laws to suppliers and doctors, not athletes. Two-year sport bans are devastating enough.

In Italy there are strong feelings about doping,

The best way to ensure security is not to talk about it. What I can say is that all the funds requested have been provided. We asked the government for a ($12.22 million) budget increase and we received it.

You think American professional hockey players, paid in the millions, will risk being put in handcuffs to come play in Turin? Come on. Let's be realistic.

The IOC is convinced that sporting sanctions are enough in the fight against doping.

The use of banned substances in Italy is a crime.

These numbers are an example of an Italian system that works.

It's certainly not easy to work like this.

It's clear at this point ... that parliament doesn't want to change the law,

It's not easy to work like this. We had already discussed that money, it's money that was expected.

It's like Formula One racing. They went for a pit stop, and we made up three minutes in the race.

The Italian Health Ministry intends to conform to the commitments taken by our government.

The maximum of penal sanctions (for such offences) is two years and (for offences) up to two years we do not (serve) prison-time in Italy.