Overview
- Silvio Fauner, a Lillehammer 1994 gold medalist, said he speaks for 10 former athletes with 35 Olympic medals who were not invited to serve as torchbearers or ambassadors.
- He argued selections favored entertainers and influencers, citing TV personality “Uomo Gatto,” and relayed an anecdote about a torchbearer linked through a sponsor connection.
- Fondazione Milano Cortina, which runs the relay with Coca-Cola and Eni, expressed regret and indicated it looked to CONI for historic names, while CONI said its role was limited to flag-bearer choices.
- Sports Minister Andrea Abodi asked Milano Cortina and CONI to detail the criteria, as the League party called the choices incomprehensible and urged a swift solution.
- Fauner and peers also report difficulty obtaining tickets and note the 1994 relay team’s recent Walk of Fame honor contrasts with their exclusion, while a few champions did receive prominent roles.