Italian President Sergio Mattarella opened the session. [Photo: IOC]
IOC Session opens at La Scala with call for peace
By Philip Barker in Milan
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella has opened the International Olympic Committee Session in the splendid surroundings of La Scala in Milan with a call “for the unarmed strength of sport to silence the weapons,” and for the Olympic Truce to be respected.
“The Games are the world’s universal sporting event,” said Mattarella.
“The Olympic Games are an opportunity for encounter and mutual understanding, it goes far beyond the purely sporting dimension. It is a major global event that resonates deeply in a world facing profound difficulties, wars, tensions in international relations, global imbalances and human suffering overshadows and weighs heavily on the conscience of the community. Sport by contrast is welcoming, it generates joy, passion and hope, it embodies respect for others. Sport is a peaceful encounter, it bears witness to fraternity through loyal competition it stands in opposition to a world dominated by barriers and lack of dialogue. It rejects violence in all its forms.”
A musical performance celebrating the host nation hinted at the delights to come at the Opening Ceremony on Friday night at the San Siro Stadium which is set to include the greats of Italian music.
La Scala’s Musical Director Riccardo Chailly led the orchestra in a performance of the overture from “The Thieving Magpie” by Rossini.
He was then joined on stage by baritone Luca Salsi for arias from Verdi’s operas “Macbeth” and “La forza del destino” to entertain the IOC members.
“From this stage generations of artists, opera singers and musicians have inspired their audience through their excellence artistry through beauty and emotion” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
“La Scala represents the Italian spirit, a deep love of the arts and life of human creativity, of blending tradition and innovation in the same spirit that will now embrace the world’s best winter sports athletes as they prepare to make their Olympic dreams come true.”
The session began with a thrilling version of the Olympic hymn, written for the first Olympics of the Modern Era in 1896, followed by the rousing Italian national anthem.
Milano Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò told his fellow IOC members, “the theatre hosting us this evening represents a global symbol of excellence in music and arts, a monument in which a universal language resonates at its highest level transcending every barrier and to speaking to people everywhere. This same sense of universality defines the International Olympic Committee. La Scala thus becomes a symbol of what Milano Cortina will offer.”
Competitions begin two days before the Opening Ceremony with curling in Cortina. Ice hockey is also under way before the Flame is lit at public sites in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“I was elected 200 days ago but in this short time have daily felt the great responsibility of this Olympic challenge that we are preparing to celebrate,” insisted Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) President Luciano Buonfiglio.
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