AT THE QUIRINALE
Team Italia's journey to Milano-Cortina 2026 can officially start. At the Quirinale's Salone dei Corazzieri, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella presented the Tricolour to the flag bearers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (photo: Simone Ferraro, CONI).
A delegation of athletes, technicians and staff, led by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and Italian Paralympic Committee President Marco Giunio De Sanctis, attended the event. Also present at the event were the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi; several representatives of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation, led by President Giovanni Malagò; CONI Secretary General and Head of Mission at Milano Cortina 2026, Carlo Mornati; and FISI President, Flavio Roda.
After the Italian national anthem, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio was the first to speak: “Mr President, thank you as always for welcoming us here at the Quirinale just days, even hours, before the Christmas festivities. It was not easy to find a space in your agenda, but as always, you have understood the difficulties faced by these athletes, who are preparing for a historic event, one that is almost unique for some of them, of competing at the Olympic Games in their own country. This is why the ceremony of handing over the flag to our flag bearers for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is so significant. This time, our flag, our tricolour, for which we dedicate our entire lives to working and sacrificing, will not leave Italy. It will remain here with us in our beloved Italy and will be guarded by four great Italian athletes. There are four, rather than two, because, for the first time in history, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, has agreed to our request that the organising country of an Olympics bearing the names of two cities should parade with two flag-bearers, one in Milan and one in Cortina, so that no one should feel subordinate to another. Selecting these two athletes was the most challenging decision of my tenure as CONI President. Every assessment inevitably pleases some people and displeases others. This team in front of you comprises potential Azzurri standard-bearers. We had to balance the number of men and women, as well as the two federations, the Winter Sports Federation and the Ice Sports Federation. We also had to consider the distance between Milan and Cortina, as well as the relentless competition calendar. Ultimately, we arrived at a solution based on reasoning, symbolism and objective meanings. In Milan, the flag will be entrusted to Arianna Fontana, a multi-Olympic champion who is participating in her sixth Games and is the only athlete to have competed in the last Italian Olympics in Turin in 2006. Arianna was also the flag-bearer in PyeongChang in 2018, and she is now a unique symbol for our movement. In fact, she is the most successful female athlete in the history of Italian sport, across both the Winter and Summer Games. We could not fail to recognise her achievements. Accompanying her will be Federico Pellegrino, a champion who has made seriousness and composure a way of life. Entrusting him with the flag is the fitting culmination of a successful and exemplary career. In Cortina, the choice was even more difficult since we have athletes that the whole world envies. Without detracting from the achievements of other exceptional champions, I believe it is appropriate to highlight an athlete who, over the past year, has inspired the entire nation, including you, Mr President, with her remarkable story of determination, pride, perseverance and resilience in the face of a career-threatening injury. I am, of course, referring to Federica Brignone: a shining example of tenacity, endurance, and constancy. In the spirit of gender equality, I chose the reigning Olympic champion Amos Mosaner, who won the gold medal in Beijing four years ago and will be defending it in Cortina alongside Stefania Costantini. I have already informed her that she will be reading the athletes' oath at the opening ceremony. As you can see, Mr President, Italian sport is presenting itself at these Olympic Games with an important burden of responsibility, which we are not shirking for two reasons. Firstly, our athletes have trained hard over the last four years, knowing only two words: work and commitment. Secondly, we know that you are by our side, our first supporter and solid bulwark, and that you have never failed to show us the affection and support we need at this time. On behalf of these young people, CONI and Italian sport, I would like to thank you once again”.
The Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, stated: “By presenting the Tricolour, we are entrusting the passion and expectations of Italians for success. We are convinced that athletes can above all guarantee the honour of representing our nation through the commitment they demonstrate every day, which gives us endless satisfaction. They are not only entrusted with the Tricolour, but also with the blue jersey, the dream of so many children and teenagers, and of so many of us who have aspired to reach the pinnacle of sport. There are 46 days to go until Milano Cortina 2026, when Italy will be at the centre of attention. We will all try to rise to the occasion, aware that we are working towards a momentous event, and that what happens the day after will also be very important for the country. We present ourselves with the strength of immortal and universal values, which also depend on our behaviour. We will rise to the occasion”.
After receiving the Tricolour from the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, it was the turn of the flag bearers.
Arianna Fontana began by saying: “Mr President, the flag you entrust to us today is much more than a symbol of our origins or what we call home; it is a promise, a promise to Italy, a promise to every young person who dares to dream of being where we are today. It is a promise to the families who support us and the communities that shape us. It is a promise to all those who believe that sport can be a force for growth, unity and hope. Sharing this honour with three other extraordinary athletes, Chicco, Fede and Amos, whose values and dedication I admire, makes this moment even more special. Today, we pledge to honour this flag with respect, discipline, and the unwavering courage that the Italian spirit has always inspired in us. We will represent our country with an open heart, a steadfast mind, and the determination to set a good example every single day. We have done it before. And we will do it again. For me personally, this flag carries the weight of a lifelong commitment to defending our home, our colours, and our values under all circumstances and against all odds. I have been doing this for twenty years, and I will be ready this time too. Thank you, Mr President. Thank you, Italy.”
“To the President of the Republic and all institutional office holders. To all the coaches and technical staff present. To my teammates on Team Italia. To my family. To everyone listening to us now or who will listen to us in the future. Today, tomorrow, or in the distant future. I accept your choice, just as you have accepted me year after year, said Federico Pellegrino. 'I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it for a long time. I would be lying if I said that I had never imagined myself leading our delegation with the tricolour in front of me and the whole country behind me. I would be lying if I said that this moment had not motivated me, supporting me in making some of my choices and ours. And I could never lie to you. My thoughts now turn to my grandfather, Gino, the last of my grandparents to whom I said goodbye. He was a man of duty and civic responsibility, and he would have seen this moment as the culmination of all his choices. Past, yet still present. It's like a climb with a thousand hairpin bends that takes you to the summit. Wherever he may be, I know he is listening. He is happier than I am. Because choice is the home of doubt, perhaps the only gift we have ever been given. It is in doubt that existence is built. In the balance between the signifier and the signified. Between a symbol, like the flag, and what it represents. My flag contains what is also contained in those of my colleagues, friends and loved ones, and in the flags of all my fellow citizens. My flag contains hundreds of choices. Enormous and tiny. Obligatory and creative. Often necessary and difficult. Sometimes simple and sweet. It is a mosaic of will, in which you are both actor and spectator at the same time. You choose to be there, early in the morning, when it is freezing outside. You choose to give something up today in order to cultivate it for tomorrow. Making choices together and smoothing off your rough edges. Making choices, making mistakes and learning to forgive yourself. You choose each other for a life together: Husband, wife, partner. Then choosing together for your children and teaching them to choose for themselves until they help you choose again. Choosing is an act of responsibility, an intimate dialogue with your mind and heart before anything else. But it gives shape to the whole world. It is an act of love, and for this reason, I accept your choice with great pride, just as you have accepted me. Year after year after year. Thank you”.
Then it was Amos Mosaner's turn: “Mr President, thank you for welcoming us here today at the Quirinale and for finding time in your busy schedule to meet with us athletes. I would also like to thank President Buonfiglio for entrusting me with this prestigious role. Since I was young, I have had big dreams, but never imagined I would have the opportunity to represent our country in such an important role. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my family, my teammates, CONI, the Federation, the Fiamme Oro, and all the staff who have accompanied me on a path of commitment, sacrifice, and growth with competence and dedication, making these results possible. I welcome this moment with deep pride and emotion, and I await the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games with a great sense of responsibility. On this occasion, I will have the honour of waving the Italian flag in front of the world. I am convinced that through the sporting achievements and determination that characterise the Italian delegation, we will convey enthusiasm and bring an increasing number of citizens, especially younger generations, closer to the values of sport and the Olympic spirit. I renew my commitment to working consistently, persistently and flexibly, and I, like all the athletes in the Italian delegation, will wear the Italian flag with a deep sense of belonging, strength and determination. We are committed to giving our all to honour and make proud the most beautiful country in the world. Thank you, Mr President”.
To complete the quartet is Federica Brignone: “Good morning, Mr President, good morning everyone. Needless to say, I am honoured and delighted to receive the flag that will represent Italy at the Milano Cortina Olympics. I am also excited because my journey to get here has not been easy or straightforward. For this reason, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to those who gave me this opportunity. I just want to say that with this flag in my hands, I will represent all Italian athletes and the values that I believe have always been at the heart of sport: respect, loyalty, dedication, commitment, determination, humility and enjoyment. These values help us to stay grounded in moments of glory and to pick ourselves up in times of difficulty. This will be my fifth Olympics. The first ones were in Europe, close to home. I believe that taking part in the Olympics in your own country is a great honour and privilege. On the one hand, it can also be very stressful, but I will try not to see it that way. I will focus only on the positive aspects of this privilege, which few athletes have experienced, and I hope all Azzurri athletes do the same. I would like to conclude by thanking those who have made this dream possible and are working hard to ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina are a sporting and organisational success”.
In accordance with protocol, the last person to speak was the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. “It is a real pleasure to welcome you to the Salone dei Corazzieri and to meet you all on the eve of the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony. You have fully grasped the significance of the Games. We are delighted to see Federica Brignone ready and determined once again. We spoke on the phone months ago, and I am glad that this has come to fruition. This ceremony is always exciting, but this time it has even greater significance because we are organising the Games. We will pour our culture, friendship and hospitality into them, and Italy will support you every step of the way. It will be an important opportunity to showcase our country, and I would like to thank those who have worked hard to bring the Games here and organise them. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are events that put our country at the centre of the world. The Olympic and Paralympic competitions embody many human and social values. In these difficult times, the message of peace, solidarity and friendship spread by the Games will be very important. These will be fascinating days for you and those who cannot attend, because although many disciplines are individual, they involve a great deal of teamwork. In addition, the Games will encourage many young people to challenge themselves through sport. Sport plays a major role in society. I would like to express my support and gratitude to everyone involved in the Paralympic movement. Inclusion is a key goal for our society. I am sure that you will all do Italy proud with your behaviour and the results you achieve. Sofia Goggia's super-G in Val d'Isère was a good start. What you do reflects on our country. Your commitment will be recognised by us all. I will be one of your fans and will be following your progress closely. I wish you every success and many great friendships”.
