October 2nd, 2007
Prometheus Mission and scientific research
Milan: A meeting took place between Piero Lapiana, Donatella Como and professors Scanziani and Bonizza, Dean and Professor, respectively, of the Civil Veterinarian Faculty of Milan. The foundations were laid for a broad agreement that will lead to scientific research of great interest in the field of antibody changes – changes which the horses could present following their contact with countless antigens (food, pathogenic and non) that they will encounter during the journey.
September 15-16, 2007
Pisa: “Horses of Tuscany”
Pisa: as part of the “Horses of Tuscany” event held at the San Rossore racetrack, some of our Maremmana race horses are presented – these are horses that will take part in the expedition, provided by our “Amazon” Donatella Como and Mission Prometheus head Piero Lapiana. The following morning, Lapiana illustrates the fundamental themes of the ongoing initiative during a conference attended by, among others, the agricultural assessor of Tuscany, Susanna Cenni and Paul Scrocchi, director of the Italian Horse Breeder’s Association.
September 8, 2007
Chendù International Press Fair
Chendù, China: During the International Press Fair, the partnership is announced between Mission Prometheus and numerous members of the Chinese media. The news of our initiative is also picked up and published in the 2007 Chinese Press Yearbook.
August 12, 2007
Long program about Prometheus Mission
China: Chinese State television CCTV4 devotes a long program about Prometheus Mission. It is the second time that CCTV4 gives us substantial airtime after their service in May. In other words, it’s the second time in a few months that the news of our initiative is broadcast to more than a billion viewers!
July 20, 2007
The patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ROME: Prometheus Mission receives the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We receive the communication by telegram, signed by the Vice Chief of Cabinet Giulio Tonini. This patronage will allow us more direct relationships with our representatives abroad.
July 7th, 2007
General Piero D'Inzeo joins the Honor Committee
Livorno: In honor of the hundred year anniversary celebration of the birth of Federigo Caprilli, we are granted membership to the Honor Committee of General Piero D'Inzeo, the unforgettable winner of International Equestrian Jumping championships. During the same event we establish terms of partnership with Maria Lucia Galli and her Internet portal “Horse 2000”.
June 14th, 2007
Full day with the Feng Hong Chinese television troupe
Perugia: Full day with the Feng Hong Chinese television troupe from Hong Kong. Journalist Jiang Beibei wasted no time photographing mounted horses, the university and anything else that was in view of her camera. In the evening, a trip to Prato for another interview with the Chinese Consul General in Florence. The report will be aired during prime time on 2 July 2007.
April 26, 2007
A 14-part television series about the expedition
A “gentleman’s agreement” was reached with “The Looking Glass Factory”, a company that
has agreed to produce a 14-part television series about the expedition. These documentary segments will be directed by Marino Maranzana, well-known as the creator of numerous scientific and cultural productions, and currently working as an external director for the RAI 3 program “Gaia”.
March 30, 2007
Two more horses sent to Perugia to undergo clinical tests
Two more horses sent to Perugia to undergo clinical tests have passed their qualification exams and will begin their training program within a week. They are: Emira, a 5 year old halfbreed female grey from an Arab mother and a Maremmano father, and Alba, an 8 year old female Maremmano bay. They were supplied by breeder Manlio Fani, who for years has been dedicated to producing traditional, pure Maremmano horses. Another female Maremmano, 8 year old Ginestra, has been already bought and will join the group, probably in July, as she is now busy nursing her colt. She will also be supplied by breeder Manlio Fani.
March 10, 2007
Sponsorship of La Sapienza University in Rome
“Chancellor Renato Guarini of La Sapienza University in Rome has announced his decision to join the Technical-Scientific Committee of “Mission Prometheus – in the Footsteps of Marco Polo” – written in a message sent from the university. His support is of extreme importance according to the expedition: “The participation of La Sapienza”, says Piero Lapiana, creator of the project “gives even more prestige to the project, further raising the level of the technical-scientific committee, which the University of Perugia has also joined, among others.”
March 5, 2007
Agreement drawn up with the University of Perugia
On Monday, March 5, 2007 at 11:30AM in the Grand Hall of the Veterinary Faculty of Perugia, the agreement was presented between Mens Peregrina, the management association of Mission Prometheus, and the veterinary faculty of the University of Perugia, which has assumed the role of scientific partner for the project.
Hosting the session was Faculty Chairman Professor Franco Moriconi. Among the others participating were Professor Maurizio Silvestrelli, Director of the Study Center for Sporting Horses – who is in charge of the important scientific and veterinary support for the expedition, and Piero Lapiana, creator and organizer of Mission Prometheus, who presented the project.
Februrary 22, 2007
The first horses arrive in Perugia
Today, Thursday, February 22, 2007, the first horses arrived at the veterinary clinic in Perugia. Camilla and Pegasus, two Maremanno horses of ages six and four respectively, who in the next few days will undergo clinical tests to verify their suitability for the expedition. Once they have passed the tests, they will be housed for three months in the stables at the “l'Azienda Didattico Sperimentale” of the Perugian faculty, where they will be trained and evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Centro di Studio del Cavallo Sportivo, also using sophisticated equipment from the new Ospedale Veterinario Didattico on Via San Costanzo in Perugia.
February 10, 2007
ANAM organizes an assembly of horses for Mission Prometheus
Satuday, February 10, 2007 at the Casalone racetrack in Grosseto, a special commission formed by researchers from the veterinary faculty of the University of Perugia performed the first selection Maremmana-breed horses for the expedition team. The selection, in which 4 potentially eligible subjects were identified, was conducted in collaboration with ANAM (Associazione nazionale allevatori del cavallo di razza maremmana). The horses selected will be transferred shortly to the University’s veterinary clinic, where they will undergo further clinical tests.
December 13, 2006
The Chinese Ambassador joins the project
At the Roman headquarters of the Veneto region on Piazza Borghese 91, the Mission Prometheus project was presented to numerous experts, among them the cultural attaché from the Chinese embassy. He took the occasion to announce the support of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellence Dong Jinyi, who will sit on the Honor Committee.