The San Marino City Council is sponsoring all 13 athletes participating in the Special Olympics from the Republic of San Marino.
The cost for each athlete is $250, which covers the cost of room, board and entertainment while they stay in the host town. The council originally budgeted $2,500 in the council hospitality account, but increased it to $3,250 total to cover these costs at the July 8 city council meeting.
The San Marino, Calif. Sister City connection to the Republic of San Marino started with a phone call in December 1982. Then San Marino Mayor Lynn Reitnouer received an invitation to meet the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from the Republic of San Marino, who was in Troy, Mich. for meetings with local Sammarinesi. Lynn flew there and friendships began. The next year, Lynn and his wife Winnie were en route to the Republic of San Marino heading a large local delegation to establish a Sister City relationship and a sponsorship of the Republic’s 1984 Olympic Team coming to Los Angeles for the Summer Games. They were greeted at a border by a large crowd where the local mayor, television crews and various dignitaries presented Winnie Reitnouer with a tremendously large bouquet of red roses. The small City of San Marino delegation attended a variety of events and were always seated in the front rows, even in the Parliament Building.
“We felt and were treated like royalty the entire trip,” Winnie Reitnouer said.
On the second official visitation in October 1984, Winnie presented Giovanni Righi, a consummate host of our San Marino visitors throughout the years, a guest book for San Marino, California residents to sign when they would visit the republic and enter his restaurant. It has been in his possession for 30-plus years. A twin copy is in San Marino City Hall for Republic of San Marino visitors to sign.
John and Janet Webb, longtime residents of West Haven Road, recently went to the Republic of San Marino for the first time and were treated like long lost friends. They enjoyed walking the streets, learning the history of the republic, seeing the book, eating at La Taverna, going to a San Marinese family’s home for lunch, tasting the world-renowned San Marino wines, and hearing the stories from Giovanni Righi about his escapades.
The Webbs said the Republic of San Marino is a magical place that all the citizens of San Marino, Calif. should try to visit. They said it’s also important to uphold the Sister City connection.
They suggest helping to keep the relationship this summer by getting involved with the delegation of Special Olympics athletes coming from the Republic of San Marino.
The City of San Marino was not able to become a host city for the Republic of San Marino delegation. However, residents can get involved by becoming fans in the stands at some of the athletes’ events from July 25 – Aug. 3. The Webbs and Andrew “Paddy” Taber, administrative analyst for the City of San Marino, are spearheading a connection to activities that will soon be posted by the Special Olympics. The official Host City of Thousand Oaks, has organized a Community BBQ on July 22 for its athletes from Mongolia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Tajikistan as well as the Republic of San Marino. Presently a group of 26 people from San Marino, California will be attending the City of Thousand Oaks Community BBQ. Tickets will be available by contacting the City of Thousand Oaks coordinator Haider Alawami at 805-449-2135.
Tickets and information can be obtained by visiting www.la2015.org.
