The duo are two of the stars of the Italian team with 37-year-old Legnante having won F11/12 shot put gold at the London 2012 Paralympics, as well as the European discus title in Swansea in 2014 and the world shot crown in Doha last year.

Tapia, meanwhile, is the Italian national record holder in the F11 discus. 

The duo helped to kick off the first event of the “A World of Athletics” promotional campaign, which has been designed by the Grosseto 2016 Organising Committee to support the European Championships and endorse Para-athletics at all levels.

The campaign will involve other athletes and events and promotes a message of  "one athletics" - meaning there is no difference between Para and able-bodied competition.

“Athletics is for all," said Legnante.

"Even if you are on your own on a lane or a throwing circle, in reality it’s a team sport.

"I can tell you - talking to the students - that you have to hold each other’s hand.

"Life is yours, but you will always need the others as well as they will always need you.”

Francesco Carboni, Grosseto 2016 event director, said: “We aim at building up a strong and motivated team to deliver a successful European Championships.

"We are here to ask Grosseto citizens to be part of it as spectators or volunteers.

"We are crazily in love with athletics and we want to share this passion with everyone.”

The European Championships will take place in Grosseto between June 10 and 16, at the Carlo Zecchini Stadium.