Italian
The Olympic and Paralympic flag bearers of Milan Cortina have returned the Tricolor to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella
ROME – In the presence of Olympic and Paralympic medalists and the fourth-place finishers, the flag bearers of Milano Cortina 2026 returned the Tricolor to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. An emotional ceremony, celebrating the Games in their entirety but especially the feats of Italian athletes, who managed to win 30 Olympic medals and 16 Paralympic medals.
In the front row, the four Olympic flag bearers Federica Brignone, Arianna Fontana, Amos Mosaner, and Federico Pellegrino, along with the two Paralympians Chiara Mazzel and René De Silvestro. Also present were the President of the Culture, Science, and Education Commission in the Chamber Federico Mollicone and the leaders of Italian sports: the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, the President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio, the President of CIP Marco Giunio De Sanctis, the President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation Giovanni Malagò, the Secretary General of CONI and Head of Mission for the Italy Team at the Games Carlo Mornati, the Vice Presidents of CONI Diana Bianchedi (Deputy) and Marco Di Paola, the federal presidents Flavio Roda (FISI) and Andrea Gios (FISG), and some of the coaches who have significantly contributed to the successes of Milano Cortina 2026.
The third Winter Olympic Games held at home (after Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006) were a record edition for the blue team, with the maximum number of medals won: 10 golds, 6 silvers, and 14 bronzes, thus surpassing the record set in Lillehammer 1994 of 20 medals, including 7 golds.
The strength of Italian sports has also been demonstrated by the number of disciplines that won medals, a total of 10 (alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle, luge, short track, snowboarding, and speed skating), just one less than the historic record set by the United States at Pyeongchang 2018.
But not only that, 196 athletes participated, including 103 men and 93 women, making it the largest delegation in Italian history. Among them, many individual records, notably Arianna Fontana, who with the gold in the mixed relay and silvers in the 500 meters and the women’s short track relay has surpassed the all-time Italian record for Olympic medals (14), previously held by fencing legend Edoardo Mangiarotti (13).
Buonfiglio’s Speech
The first to speak was the President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio:
“Mr. President, starting with the word ‘thank you’ is a heartfelt tribute of deep and sincere admiration for the support you have shown us during these unforgettable and historic Olympic Games in Milan Cortina 2026. But this time, the word ‘thank you’ is not enough. I will say it right away: I am emotional. Today’s meeting is not like the other audiences you have granted us in the past. It is a meeting that has a special flavor, filled with joy and glory. This is not rhetoric: we have made Italy fall in love, we have made our country proud of these athletes, but also of their coaches, their managers, and their federations, represented here by Presidents Flavio Roda and Andrea Gios.
We have been one, ideally covering the entire nation with a huge Tricolor that has followed us with anticipation day after day. The audience and television share results confirm that Italians have been literally and pleasantly swept away by our successes and have cheered and celebrated with us. The thirty medals won, in addition to representing a record for our winter Olympic history, are therefore a wonderful necklace adorned with precious gems and a fitting tribute to our Republic in the year we celebrate 80 years.
Milano Cortina was my first Olympics at the helm of CONI, and I assure you that it was not easy to tame the emotions that our champions gave us. If we add to this that I was fortunate enough to experience some of these memorable victories by your side, I believe there are no words to describe the happiness and gratification of unique and unrepeatable moments.
Mr. President, you have always been our beacon, our point of reference, our non-playing Captain, but at these Games your presence by our side on various and much-appreciated occasions, along with Mrs. Laura, has been the greatest motivational boost that the blue athletes could have received. No one will ever forget your visits to the Olympic Villages in Milan and Cortina, your presence at Casa Italia, your lunches with the team, your choice to wear the Italy uniform to watch the competitions, the meetings with the athletes, the words of wisdom and encouragement you have shared with us. You have been one of us. We felt you as one of us. The Olympic world has understood that you are one of us.
Believe me, Mr. President, this is not flattery and I wouldn’t be capable of it: but the cry of San Siro ‘Sergio, Sergio’ was the most sublime moment that has impressed the international Olympic world like never before. That is why, together with the Head of Mission and Secretary General Carlo Mornati, we renew our gratitude and appreciation to you. You have transmitted that energy that has contributed to making this fourth Italian Olympics magical and memorable.
The judgments were unanimous: we were good in the organization, and I renew my compliments to the President of the Giovanni Malagò Foundation, we were good on snow and ice, we were good in our behavior during the competition and towards those who were watching us because this group of girls and boys who are here today at the Quirinale, in the House of Italians, has been an example for everyone both from a competitive and behavioral point of view. Even those who narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth, felt, thanks to his kind invitation, just as important as those who won a medal.
And speaking of medals, I conclude with a small historical digression. We have won 30, of which 10 are gold, 6 are silver, and 14 are bronze. 10-6-14. They seem like numbers in a normal sequence, but for CONI they represent and symbolize a fundamental date. It is the day of the foundation of our organization, which was indeed established on June 10, 1914. It may have been a coincidence, a sign of destiny, but this numerical coincidence will also be etched in the history of this wonderful, spectacular, and extraordinary Olympics of Milan Cortina 2026. Thank you again, Mr. President. Long live Italy, long live Sport”.
The words of De Sanctis
These are the words of the President of the CIP Marco Giunio De Sanctis:
“We have won the bet to make one of the most important monuments in human history, the Arena di Verona, accessible to all disabilities, even the most severe, the venue for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. It has been a dream come true, a demonstration of great growth for the country. The results of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are a source of pride for Italy, an incredible leap forward. The organizational machine was perfect. On the eve of the Paralympic Games, there was tension due to the delicate geopolitical situation, but the athletes were exceptional. They fought, they managed enormous pressure to achieve incredible results. Thank you, Mr. President, for the support you have shown us on this occasion as well. I hope that from this extraordinary edition, the doors of respect and full inclusion among all, athletes and non-athletes alike, can be opened.”
The speech by Abodi
It was then the turn of Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi:
“This splendid ceremony gives us the opportunity to openly express our gratitude towards you, Mr. President, for what you do for the Italian people and the world of sports. We are honored by how you athletes have represented Italy. With the handing over of the flags, the President entrusted you with the feelings of the Italians. The joy for your achievements has touched our hearts. We are grateful to all those who contributed to the realization of an extraordinary event with extraordinary results.
Alone, we do not win and we do not rise in times of difficulty. These have been memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other countries have shown us this. We have emphasized the common thread of the interest in making our country shine. We will ensure that your example as athletes serves as inspiration for our daily actions.”
The return of the flags
After the institutional speeches, the six flag bearers returned the tricolor to the President of the Republic, two at a time. First, the standard bearers of the opening ceremony in Milan Arianna Fontana and Federico Pellegrino, then those of the ceremony in Cortina Federica Brignone and Amos Mosaner, and finally those of the Paralympic ceremony in Verona Chiara Mazzel and René De Silvestro.
These are the words of the record woman, Arianna Fontana:
“I thank the President of the Republic on behalf of all athletes, both present and absent. It is always a great honor to represent the Tricolor. You have made this Olympics special. You have been the symbol of all Italians, giving us many gestures we will never forget. You made us feel part of your family. I will never forget when you called me to share the joy of a medal. You have always been ready to support us and dedicate time to us. It has been something incredible. When we wear the Tricolor, we feel united, beyond the simple result of a competition. I thank all Italians and Italy.”
Then it was the turn of Federico Pellegrino: “I realized a dream thanks to my legs and to those who helped make them perform until 2026. It came true in a unique way emotionally: entering the San Siro stadium looking for your gaze, Mr. President, was something enormous. Thanks also to my teammates, to all the Italian athletes who made us cheer at the Games. I feel so proud to be Italian.”
Then Amos Mosaner: “Mr. President, thank you for the honor of being the flag bearer, a unique emotion. It was a truly exciting Olympics, the audience supported us from start to finish. Thirty medals are a historic record. Athletes and staff worked excellently. We hope to have inspired many Italians to take an interest in sports, because sports unite and are life.”
Finally closing is Federica Brignone: “For me, it was a somewhat different journey. In December, I had said that my presence was by no means taken for granted. I managed to do something I never expected. The honor of carrying the flag at the opening ceremony gave me a boost, the motivation for an impossible challenge. It was beautiful. We experienced incredible emotions that we will remember forever.”
Then it was the turn of the Paralympic athletes: “It has been an incredible journey, an adventure lasting four years. Thank you to everyone who has been by my side. The most beautiful thing I take home is having given so many emotions to the Italians,” said Renè De Silvestro.
“It was an honor to participate in the Paralympic Games, both for the results and for the support and visibility we received. I hope to have inspired many girls and boys with disabilities,” concluded Chiara Mazzel.
Luciano Buonfiglio and Marco Giunio De Sanctis then presented to the President of the Republic the boxes containing the copies of the gold, silver, and bronze Olympic and Paralympic medals.
Mattarella’s Intervention
Thus, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella spoke before presenting a medal to each athlete present:
“It is a true pleasure to welcome you and receive from the standard bearers the flags to which you have given so much prestige. These Games have written an unforgettable page of emotions and successes. The Games have been a source of pride for our Country. On a sporting level, the medal tables are full. The numerical sequence highlighted by President Buonfiglio is significant, a coincidence of great historical meaning.
In addition to the medals, I was fortunate to witness the achievement of several records that certify the high quality of our sports movement. Many exciting personal stories have engaged us, stories that are a matter of public interest and attraction and serve as examples for young people. It was a success in terms of organization for the hospitality provided by the complex machinery that also supported many concurrent events. You have conveyed the image of an Italy of great efficiency on every continent. Everything went well. Against all skepticism.
But the beauty and importance of sport go beyond the sporting event and athletic gestures. Sport is culture, expression, and projection of society. Our effective organization and flattering results have offered the world our friendship, our hospitality, respect for others, and the ability to build networks of social interaction. We live in a difficult time clouded by serious threats and bloody wars. The culture that sport conveys is quite different. It is significant that it has fallen to Italy and Europe to showcase an event of friendship and humanity. The prevailing values have been the sporting values. The fourth-place finishers represent all the participants in the Games, which is why they are here. So, thank you to the organizers, technicians, and those who have accompanied, assisted, and trained athletes. Welcome back with our flag that you have honored, thank you.”
Photo Credits: Andrea Masini/CONI
Video Credits: Quirinale.it
