Mattarella Opens Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics Week with Cio Session & La Scala Concert
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina officially entered a significant phase today, February 2nd, with the opening of Olympic Week in Milan. The occasion was marked by the 145th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), attended by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Following a reception of IOC members at Palazzo Marino, President Mattarella attended the opening ceremony at Teatro La Scala, where he stated, “The Games are the universal sporting event. Sport is hope in times of darkness.” The ceremony included a concert directed by Chailly, featuring the overture from Gioacchino Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell.
President Mattarella Emphasizes Italy’s Responsibility
President Mattarella expressed Italy’s readiness to welcome the influx of athletes, coaches, technicians, and spectators from around the world. He stated, “Italy is happy to welcome the large number of athletes, coaches and technicians, the spectators who will come from all over the world to attend the races. We are aware of the responsibility, and we have faced the commitments of the preparation with passion.” He further emphasized that hospitality is a defining characteristic of Italian identity, and culture.
Sport as a Force for Peace
President Mattarella highlighted the power of sport as a unifying force, particularly in a challenging global climate. He acknowledged the presence of “wars, lacerations to the serenity of international life, imbalances, and suffering” but asserted that sport “welcomes, produces joy, passion, hope, is respect for the other.” He described sport as “a meeting in peace,” contrasting it with a world defined by “barriers and incommunicability” and “violence that, practiced by anyone, generates further violence.”
Call for Respect of the Olympic Truce
President Mattarella reiterated his call for the “Olympic truce to be respected everywhere” and for “the disarmed force of sport to silence the weapons.” He positioned the Olympics as a tool for promoting peace and mutual understanding. Quoting Martin Luther King – “We must be the peace we wish to see in the world” – he affirmed that the spirit of hope will be embodied by the games in Milan, Cortina, Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva, Val di Fiemme, and Verona, which will host the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
Shared Values
President Mattarella underscored that the Olympic values of “loyalty, inclusion, and fraternity” are deeply ingrained in the foundation of the Italian Republic. He thanked the IOC for fostering “this experience of meeting, passion, education, and shared culture” and recognised the athletes as “an example for millions of young people around the world.”
Earlier in the day, President Mattarella visited the Niguarda Hospital to meet with those injured in the Crans-Montana fire. The visit lasted 40 minutes and included the presence of hospital director Alberto Zoli and Lombardy Regional Welfare Assessor Guido Bertolaso. President Mattarella encouraged the injured, stating, “They must make it. We must give them a full life.” He also met with the parents of Chiara Costanzo, who died in the fire, in the afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What event marked the official start of Olympic Week?
The 145th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, marked the official start of Olympic Week in Milan on February 2nd.
Where will the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games be held?
The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games will be held in Verona.
What values did President Mattarella identify as being shared between the Olympics and Italy?
President Mattarella identified loyalty, inclusion, and fraternity as values shared between the Olympics and the Italian Republic.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics draw closer, how might the Games serve as a platform for international dialogue and cooperation?