Italy has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace through sport as the nation prepares to host the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. President Sergio Mattarella expressed his hope that the upcoming Games will signal an end to acts of aggression and abuse of power during a cauldron lighting ceremony held last week at Piazza del Quirinale.
“Let the aggression and barbarism stop. We hope that the Olympic Truce will be renewed. The sign of peace that the Olympics bring will be clear and visible in every corner of the world,” President Mattarella stated, highlighting Italy’s dedication to the long-standing tradition of the Olympic Truce.
Italy has actively championed this tradition, formally presenting a United Nations resolution last month on behalf of the Italian Government. Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee, delivered the resolution entitled Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal. The proposal calls on member states to respect a truce that will begin one week before the start of the Milano Cortina Games and extend until one week after the closing of the Paralympic Games on 15 March 2026. The measure aims to ensure the safety of athletes, officials, and accredited personnel travelling through areas affected by ongoing conflicts.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reinforced Italy’s commitment to the tradition of peace during the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks. He called for a ceasefire during the Winter Games and emphasised the country’s role in promoting global harmony. “In view of the Milano Cortina Olympics, we are presenting a proposal for an Olympic Truce for all wars, including Ukraine and the Middle East, to the United Nations. We must be champions of peace,” Tajani said.
The Olympic Truce, or Ekecheiria, has its roots in Ancient Greece, established around 776 BC to suspend hostilities during the Games. It was reintroduced at the 2004 Athens Olympics following a proposal from the host country’s government. President Mattarella recalled this history while reflecting on the previous Winter Games hosted in Italy. “Peace has been inscribed in the Olympic DNA since ancient times. In ancient Greece, when the Games were held, weapons would stop,” he said.
Speaking about the historical significance of the Winter Olympics in Cortina, he noted, “Cortina is once again an Olympic city after 70 years. The world has moved quickly since then. It was the first Winter Olympics broadcast on television, in black and white, yet it remains full of charm. For the first time in the history of sport, a woman, ski champion Giuliana Minuzzo, read the Olympic oath. One of the greatest riches of sport lies in achievements that the community embraces, which quickly become shared heritage.”
President Mattarella concluded by emphasising the broader impact of sport. “Sport carries a precious value; it transmits hope and shows how, with commitment, tenacity, and the courage to surpass one’s limits, new goals can be achieved. The finish line of tomorrow already contains hope, inspiring us to become better.”
