It’s a stain. The absence of several big names in Italian winter sports among the torchbearers for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan Cortina (February 6-22) triggered strong reactions on Tuesday within the political class, notably from the League, the party of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, published Tuesday, cross-country skier Silvio Fauner, member of the Italian relay crowned Olympic champion in 1994 in Lillehammer (Norway), regrets having “been snubbed” by the organizers of the torch relay, which left Rome on December 4.
“There is no respect for us, the champions, I consider this an incredible offense,” declared the five-time Olympic medalist who said he spoke on behalf of ten athletes who have won a total of 35 medals, such as Marco Albarello, Giorgio Di Centa, Cristian Zorzi or Pietro Piller Cottrer.
“We are all angry”
“We are all angry (…) We have not been involved in any way in any initiative for the Winter Olympics in our country. Neither torch bearers, nor ambassadors, no role. Nothing,” he continued. “They preferred people from the entertainment industry, like Uomo Gatto (participant in a game show, editor’s note), singers who do not embody Olympic sport,” Fauner underlined.
Former alpine skier Kristian Ghedina made similar comments last month, but Fauner’s statements this time triggered a reaction from the political class.
Politicians get involved
“The choice of the flame bearers is incomprehensible and disconcerting. Especially since this was in no way concerted with the Ministry (of Transport) of Matteo Salvini, who more than anyone else was invested in the realization of the Games,” wrote in a press release the League, the far-right party of Mr. Salvini, the main architect of the construction of the Cortina bobsleigh track.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi asked for “information from the Milano-Cortina organizing committee and the Italian Olympic Committee to understand what the selection criteria were”. “In principle, it is obvious that the legends of sport, those who made history, should be held in the highest and absolute regard. I too was a little surprised,” admitted Mr. Abodi.
The torch relay, a journey of two months and 12,000 kilometers in the hands of 10,001 torchbearers across Italy, will end on February 6 with the arrival at the San Siro stadium for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympics.
