Today, Wednesday, 8 June, the event “Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Sport diplomacy in the face of global challenges” took place at the Farnesina, Sassoli Room. In a high-level institutional setting, the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics were presented to the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Italy and a selected number of Italian businesses, leading Italian sports personalities and leading representatives from other sectors of Made in Italy excellence.
The initiative is in line with the international calling of the Farnesina and is part of a systemic perspective, since the Winter Olympics and Paralympics offer a privileged opportunity to promote the Country System as a whole, taking advantage of the strategic lever of sport also to attract tourism. The goal is to present a cutting-edge image of Italy capable of highlighting its food and wine excellences, and especially those in the field of industrial and technologicy innovation. The event also provided an opportunity to launch possible formats for integrated promotion, including sports, tourism, technology innovation and design.
The Ceremony was opened by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ettore Francesco Sequi, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio, followed by institutional remarks by Ministers Lamorgese, Garavaglia, Dadone, Stefani, the Undersecretary of State for Sport Valentina Vezzali, the Presidents of the Veneto and Lombardy Regions and of the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, the Mayors of Milan and Cortina, the President of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation and CONI President Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli and the Managing Director of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, Vincenzo Novari.
Upon conclusion of the event, the handover of the Olympic and Paralympic flags took place before the institutional representatives in attendance and the “Ambassadors” of Milano Cortina 2026, Deborah Compagnoni and Bebe Vio.
As Minister Di Maio stated, “the universal language of sport is a powerful vehicle for dialogue and social inclusion, a tool of diplomacy that favours peace among peoples and that contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Sport is also an extraordinary way to promote tourism and the excellence of Made in Italy products, something that the Farnesina has long been supporting through the implementation of innovative projects and formats of integrated promotion.”
According to CONI President Giovanni Malagò, “sport is a fundamental asset of our country. It promotes topmost values such as equality, inclusion and respect. And it is also an ambassador of Italy’s uniqueness and its desire to continue to play a leading role on the international stage. The Olympics and Paralympics of Milano Cortina 2026, and all its beautiful territories, will be an opportunity for giving further momentum to the economy and an will be a window that opens onto the World: a calling card that will allow us to consolidate our image”.