06 December 2025 - When the flame for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games lit the Piazza del Quirinale, the square in front of the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic, on Friday in Rome, IOC President Kirsty Coventry praised “Italy’s warmth and energy”, which could be felt at that moment.

• IOC President praised “Italy’s warmth and energy” when the Olympic flame for Milano Cortina 2026 lit the Piazza del Quirinale in Rome.
• The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, called for the Olympic Truce to be respected, and for hope: “Sport carries this precious value.”
• CONI honoured IOC President Coventry with the Giulio Onesti award for Olympic firsts.

“The Olympic flame is arriving in a nation that lives and breathes sport: bella Italia, where passion shines through in everything you do,” she said during the ceremony, 63 days before the opening of the Winter Olympics (6 to 22 February 2026 / Ticket details can be found here).