The Olympic flame has been rekindled in Italy. Twenty years after Turin 2006, the symbolic fire of Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 It was lit, this Friday (5), in a solemn ceremony at Piazza del Quirinale, In Rome.
Responsible for lighting the celebratory bonfire, President Sergio Mattarella took the opportunity to make a direct appeal to the international community: "Stop the wars!" Addressing political and sporting leaders and foreign guests, Mattarella emphasized that... Peace has been inscribed in the DNA of the Games since ancient Greece.. "When the games were happening, the guns stopped," he stated.
Torch of peace
With the presence of the president of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and representatives from Parliament and the sporting world, the event reinforced the symbolic value of the Games as an instrument of unity.
“We hope that the Olympic truce will be renewed. The signal of peace that the Games bring will be clear and visible everywhere,” said Mattarella, referring to the war in Ukraine and other ongoing conflicts. “We hope that the remaining months can bring tranquility and dialogue, put an end to aggression and barbarity, and extinguish the thirst for power that generates fear, death, and devastation.”
IOC support and global appeal
Kirsty Coventry, president of the IOC, reinforced the message: “The flame symbolizes the spirit of the Games, breaking down barriers and building bridges. It should inspire the dreams of new generations, connecting people and cultures.”
The president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Bonfiglio, and Giovanni Malagò, president of the Fondazione Milano Cortina, recalled that, in New York, the Olympic truce resolution was approved unanimously, with support, including from Russia.
Coventry also highlighted Italy's ability to combine innovation and tradition. "The passion shines through in everything you do. Your excellence exalts the dreams of those who believe in the power of sport."
