Bye bye Beijing, see you in Milan Cortina in four years

Bye bye Beijing, we are waiting for you in Milan Cortina. The twenty-fourth edition of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games closes with a historic handover with Italy that brings the five-circle flag back to Europe for the next Winter Games in 2026. The third that will host our country after Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006.

The Chinese edition closes for the Italia Team in the name of personal records - among all that of Arianna Fontana who with the gold and 2 silvers won in China touches the 11 medals and becomes the most medaled blue in the history of the Games - and team, with the

expedition led by the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò and the Secretary General and Head of Mission, Carlo Mornati, who returns home with a haul of medals (17) second only to that obtained in Lillehammer 1994.

At the Bird's Nest, the only stadium to host 4 opening and closing ceremonies (it was also home to the Beijing 2008 Summer Games), the Italian flag bearer, Francesca Lollobrigida, the first blue medalist in the history of speed skating (silver and bronze here in China), immediately makes her entrance after that of the Chinese home, while the tricolor team enters the stadium for penultimate among the 91 countries in the race.
In fact, Italy will receive the baton from China with the task of organizing the next Games.
First, however, there is to celebrate the protagonists of this Asian edition, the third if we consider Pyeongchang 2018 and the summer Tokyo 2020, the second in the Covid 19 era.

Arianna Fontana has her recognition by joining the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach representing European athletes.
A celebration for the skater of the most decorated short track in history and a certificate of esteem for an Italy that has to smile for the 2 golds, 7 silvers and 8 bronzes, won by the 19 blue medalists.

Indelible joys that confirm us among the greatest and that make us dream in view of the Games at home.
The eyes of the world are all on our country: there is a desire to review the Olympics in the Alps and to bring the review back to five circles where winter and ice sports have a centuries-old tradition.
An appetizer of what will be is given by the show curated by Marco Balich: they will be sustainable, inclusive and environmentally friendly games. "Duality, together", the motto chosen.

 

The Olympic flag passes through the mayor of Beijing and is entrusted by Bach, for the first time in history in five circles, to two mayors, Beppe Sala (Milan) and Gianpietro Ghedina (Cortina), under the gaze of the Undersecretary with responsibility for sport, Valentina Vezzali.

 

The Tricolor flies in the Olympic stadium accompanied by the anthem of Mameli interpreted by Malika Ayane and the violinist Giovanni Andrea Zanon, while the Bel Paese shows off the best it can offer. A video message in Chinese from the Governors of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana and Veneto, Luca Zaia invites the world to Italy.

The expectation is high, but our country with its champions will certainly be ready. Bye bye Beijing, we are waiting for you in Milan Cortina.