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Italy Bids Farewell to Alex Zanardi at Padua Basilica

Mourners honored his sporting legacy under a family plan that limited live TV.

Overview

  • The funeral at Padua's Basilica of Santa Giustina on Tuesday drew more than 2,000 people inside, with thousands more watching outside.
  • After the family barred live TV coverage, the city screened the service on a large display in Prato della Valle.
  • Zanardi's handbike stood before the altar, a central symbol of his comeback from the 2001 crash that cost him his legs.
  • Athletes from Obiettivo3, the para-sport team he founded, escorted the coffin into the church.
  • The farewell ended with the song “Ti insegnerò a volare (Alex)” and an open-hearse goodbye.