Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slams anti-Olympics protesters as ‘enemies of Italy and Italians’.
Printed On 8 Feb 2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned anti-Olympics protesters as “enemies of Italy and Italians” after violence on the fringes of rallies in Milan and the alleged sabotage of prepare infrastructure.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) additionally joined the criticism on Sunday, condemning violence linked to the protests in Milan on Saturday, stating such behaviour has no place on the Video games.
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The incidents occurred on the primary full day of competitors within the Winter Video games that Milan is internet hosting together with the Alpine city of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Meloni praised hundreds of Italians who’re working to maintain the Video games operating easily, a lot of whom are volunteers.
“Then there are those that are enemies of Italy and Italians. The protesters show ‘towards the Olympics,’ inflicting these photos to finish up on televisions around the globe. After others lower the railway cables to forestall the trains from leaving,” the prime minister wrote in an announcement on Fb on Sunday.
The Italian Transport Ministry mentioned that an investigation into suspected “terrorism” had been launched after the railway sabotage close to town of Bologna on Saturday and that these accountable would face a multimillion-euro damages declare.
1000’s of individuals took to the streets in Milan on Saturday to protest towards the Olympics’ environmental and social penalties, together with issues over extreme public spending and ecological harm.
The march, which started peacefully, turned tense when some protesters set off smoke bombs and firecrackers close to Olympic venues. Milan police responded with tear fuel and water cannons to disperse the crowds, resulting in clashes in areas near the Olympic Village and a close-by freeway.
Worldwide Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams informed reporters on Sunday that peaceable protest is legit, however “we draw a line at violence”, which “has no place on the Olympic Video games”.
Individually, protesters have additionally rallied towards Israel’s participation within the video games and towards US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which has deployed brokers to supply safety to the US delegation on the Video games.
Throughout Friday’s opening ceremony, Israel’s small delegation marched into Milan’s San Siro Stadium to a smattering of “boos” from the crowds. The 4 Israeli athletes, waving their nationwide flag and smiling, noticed the jeers rapidly drowned out by the loud music and general festive environment.
United States Vice President JD Vance and his spouse, Second Girl Usha Vance, acquired an analogous hostile reception once they appeared on the stadium’s massive display screen.
