(CNN) The Vatican has set its sights on qualifying for the Olympics, with a track team of up of 60 athletes, including nuns, priests, Swiss Guards, museum workers, carpenters and maintenance workers.

The Holy See launched its official athletics team Thursday, after receiving the blessing of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Its first race takes place in nine days, and the team's backing from CONI -- hailed as a "historic moment" by Vatican press office director Alessandro Gisotti -- allows it to become a member of international sports federations.

"The dream that we have often had is to see the Holy See flag among the delegations at the opening of the Olympic Games," said the team's president, Monsignor Melchor Jose Sanchez de Toca y Alameda.

But swapping the altar for the podium is a challenge of biblical proportions, Sanchez admitted at the team's introductory press conference.

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