Mattarella visits Milan Olympic Village ahead of 2026 Winter Games
Italy's president met with athletes, signed the Olympic Truce mural, and shared lunch with the Italian team on the eve of the Games.
7 hrs ago
President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella visited the Olympic Village in Milan on Thursday, hours before the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. He was received by Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, Milan Prefect Claudio Sgaraglia, Italian Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio, and Milan Cortina Foundation President Giovanni Malagò.
Upon arrival, Mattarella signed the Olympic Truce mural before touring the offices and residences of the Italian athletes. He then shared lunch with members of the Italian team competing in the Games.
Addressing the athletes, Mattarella emphasized the significance of their participation. "For all of you who are here, this is already a great success," he said. "Being selected, being part of a team, taking part in the Olympics is already an extremely important milestone, an authentic and important success."
He acknowledged that athletes would pursue additional results beyond participation. "I presume you are not satisfied with this alone, and that you will face the competitions with the intention of achieving other results, other further successes. But it must never be forgotten that participation is the first important milestone and result," Mattarella stated.
The president spoke to the athletes about the nature of competition. "The first competition is with yourselves and with your own limits, to surpass yourselves, to improve yourselves, and then there is the one alongside that with the other participants," he said. "We hope there will be many medals, but what is important is the way in which you will participate, with commitment, giving everything of yourselves, with loyalty, with respect for others."
Mattarella framed the Olympic Games as a global spectacle. "It is a competition that gives the world a show of extraordinary value, of coexistence, of friendship, of humanity, of seriousness," he said.
The athletes presented Mattarella with an official Italy Team jacket bearing his name. "I am slightly too old for the Olympics and to tell the truth, even as a young man I would not have been selected," Mattarella said with humor. "Thank you for the gift, I will keep it with affection and wear it because it is not only significant but also precious. It will accompany you in these Games and this gives it great value as well."
Mattarella concluded his remarks with encouragement for the Italian delegation. "Thank you for the effort you put in, thank you in advance because you will certainly do honor to the tricolor, to our flag and to our colors. Thank you and good luck," he told the athletes.
In the evening, Mattarella was scheduled to attend a gala dinner with International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and officials from other nations.