AT THE QUIRINALE
Amidst the spectacle of the Frecce Tricolori, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella ignited the cauldron of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic flame at Piazza del Quirinale. In the presence of Giorgia Meloni (President of the Council of Ministers), Ignazio La Russa (President of the Senate), Lorenzo Fontana (President of the Chamber of Deputies), Matteo Salvini (Minister of Infrastructure and Transport), Andrea Abodi (Minister for Sport and Youth), Kirsty Coventry (President of the IOC), Luciano Buonfiglio (President of CONI), Marco Giunio De Sanctis (President of the CIP), Giovanni Malagò (President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation), Attilio Fontana (President of the Lombardy Region), Giuseppe Sala (Mayor of Milan) and Gianluca Lorenzi (Mayor of Cortina), the Head of State signed an important document in the lead-up to the Winter Olympic Games, which are scheduled to take place from 6 to 22 February (photo: Simone Ferraro/CONI).
“The lighting of the Olympic flame marks the start of an exciting journey and embodies universal principles” said Mattarella. “The Olympic Games provide an opportunity for men and women to progress, encouraging solidarity while demanding an end to oppression based on ethnic origin. This message is conveyed by champions in every discipline and by young people who play sports. Now, more than ever, we feel the urgent need for friendship and peace among peoples. Italy has requested the renewal of the Olympic truce, and we hope that the two months leading up to the start of the Games will ease tensions further. The Olympic sign of peace will be clear and visible everywhere, and one of the greatest riches of sport is that its achievements become part of humanity's heritage. We received the baton from Beijing, and we will hand it over to France. In this era of change, there is a need for hope, and sport contains and transmits this precious value. With the courage to overcome our limits, we can achieve great things, and by lighting the torch, we revive hope for peace and future progress”.
“The Olympia week has been incredible and stirred up a lot of emotion in me” said Coventry. “Seeing the flame arrive in Rome was moving, thanks to the great energy of the Italian people. Every athlete recognises the values of creativity and courage in the power of sport, which transcends barriers and borders, embodying the true spirit of the Olympic Games and ensuring that the dreams of the younger generation are not discriminated against. Milano Cortina 2026 will be my first Olympic Games, and I hope they will be a great success for Italy, the athletes, and the entire Olympic movement. I hope that the Games will inspire the world, and that Italy's passion for them will shine through. As an athlete, I experienced this first-hand when I competed in the 2009 World Championships here in Rome, and to this day it remains one of the most memorable championships of my career. When the torch begins its journey through Italy, it will connect millions of Italians, from the Alps to Sicily and from the largest cities to the smallest villages. Each torchbearer will carry a part of the Italian spirit: your creativity, courage, cultural heritage, joy, and passion for life. The flame carries the hopes of the athletes and the dreams of everyone who believes in the power of sport. Before the ceremony, we had the opportunity to exchange a few words, during which we recognised the power of sport to break down barriers, build bridges and strengthen communities”.
In the afternoon, the flame was carried to the CONI Hall of Honour by Diana Bianchedi, Deputy Vice President of the Olympic Committee and Chief Strategy Planning & Legacy Officer of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation. Everything is now ready for the journey of the Olympic flame, which will start from the Stadio dei Marmi.
