MILANO CORTINA 2026
After declaring the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games open during the Opening Ceremony at the Stadio San Siro on 6 February, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, returned to the Olympic venues, travelling on this occasion to Cortina d'Ampezzo, where tomorrow he will attend the women’s super-G and visit Casa Italia.
A guest of the Officers’ Club of the Italian Navy, the Head of State met (photo Quirinale) Italy’s alpine skiing champion Sofia Goggia, who will compete tomorrow at 11:30 (alongside fellow Italians Federica Brignone, Laura Pirovano and Elena Curtoni) in the second speed event of these Games, following the bronze medal she secured in Sunday’s downhill.
“Congratulations. It is your third Olympics and your third medal,” Mattarella began during a meeting lasting around half an hour, held in the presence of his daughter, Signora Laura, and the President of CONI, Luciano Buonfiglio. “We are all honoured that you are here to watch and support us. I will pass on your greetings to the whole team,” Goggia told the President of the Republic.
Subsequently, the Deputy Chef de Mission and Head of Communications and Ceremonial, Danilo di Tommaso, handed the phone to President Mattarella, enabling him to congratulate short track champion Arianna Fontana, Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympian with 12 medals, fresh from the gold won yesterday in the mixed relay.
Extending his congratulations to the other members of the Italian team — Chiara Betti, Elisa Confortola, Thomas Nadalini, Pietro Sighel and Luca Spechenhauser — the Head of State celebrated yet another prestigious result for the Lombard skater: “You were magnificent, that gold is worth a great deal. And as for the upcoming races, I shall say nothing. See you soon,” were the words of the Head of State.
“We managed to stay calm and that proved to be the winning formula,” the Italian champion explained over the phone.
