The case of the “forgotten Olympians,” which came to light in an interview with Sports Predication, has taken a political turn. The League and the Ministry of Sports are demanding explanations from the Milan-Cortina Foundation and CONI

The case of the “forgotten Olympians,” which came to light thanks to an interview with Silvio Fauner—gold medalist at the 1994 Lillehammer Games—with Sports Predication, has also scandalized the government. In a statement, the League harshly criticized the decisions made by the Milano-Cortina Foundation and CONI: “The selection of the torchbearers, which did not include the full participation of sports legends, is incomprehensible and baffling. This is especially true because it was not coordinated in any way with Matteo Salvini’s ministry, which has done more than anyone else to make the Games a reality. Moreover, in addition to his role as a member of the government, Salvini has shown great determination in supporting Milan-Cortina as party leader as well—one need only consider the exceptional support from local officials, starting with the regional presidents. We hope a solution will be found as soon as possible.”

The Minister of Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi, says he is taken aback: “In light of what has come to light, I have already requested information from Milano-Cortina and CONI to understand what the selection criteria were. In principle, it is clear that sports legends—those who have made history—should be held in the highest regard. I, too, was a bit taken aback, objectively speaking, because when it comes to a wonderful phenomenon like the torch relay—with 10,001 torchbearers—I believe that the group of Olympians should have been at the forefront, precisely because of the example they have set in sports and that many continue to set generously as they travel around Italy, visiting schools and events to promote the values of sport. This Torch Relay embodies the values of the Olympic Flame, which people must put into practice not only through words but, above all, through actions. Therefore, I reserve the right to gather all the necessary information before offering an assessment.”