The CIP Board held an online extraordinary meeting to discuss issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Italian Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagò attended, as did Italian Minister for Youth Policies and Sport Vincenzo Spadafora.

Spadafora reassured the CIP that the Paralympic Movement was an important part of Italian sport.

"Like all the rest of the country, our movement is also going through a critical phase," Pancalli said.

"We thank the Minister for his attention to our realities.

"We are aware of the fact that the health emergency is the country's priority. 

"However, we have highlighted some needs of the Paralympic world, especially those linked to the support of families and athletes with disabilities who risk experiencing even harder isolation than the others. 

"And we have posed the problem of supporting those sports clubs that risk not being able to overcome the crisis phase. 

"We have received encouraging signals from the Minister. 

"I am sure that we will emerge from this emergency with strength and determination."

Pancalli also offered to make the CIP Paralympic Training Centre available to sporting clubs when the pandemic is over. 

"We want to make a contribution in our small way," he said.

"In the 2020-2021 sports season, we will allow the completely free use of the spaces inside the Paralympic Training Centre, to all the sports clubs that have already used it this season as well as to other subjects who will request it, subject to availability."

Italy is one of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus crisis, with nearly 160,000 confirmed cases.

Its death count of more than 20,000 is the second-highest in the world.

The country has been in a strict lockdown since March 9, although restrictions are starting to ease.