An emotional interview published in Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy's largest sports newspaper) has unexpectedly generated a national conversation in Italy about sport, memory, and politics. Silvio Fauner, a former Italian cross-country skier and Olympic champion, is at the center of the matter. Fauner is a renowned figure in Italian winter sports, best recognized internationally for leading Italy to a gold medal in the 4x10 km relay at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. There, Italy secured victory over Norway on their home soil, with Fauner surpassing Bjørn Daehlie—regarded as one of the finest cross-country skiers of all time—in a sprint in front of nearly 200,000 captivated spectators. That moment is one of the most memorable in Italian Olympic history. Yet, according to Fauner, that sporting legacy appears to hold little significance in the present day. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Fauner expressed his disappointment both personally and as the spokesperson for a group of about 10 previous Italian Olympic cross-country skiing champions. The basis for the protest is their nearly complete exclusion from the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. "When it's convenient for sports institutions to remember what we've done, they're happy to do so", Fauner explained. "But when it comes to respecting what we represented and gave to Italian sport, it's as if we never existed". Fauner underlined that only a few big figures from the past have participated in the Olympic ceremonies thus far. However, the vast majority of the key figures from Italy's golden age of cross-country skiing have gone unnoticed. One episode recounted by Fauner has become emblematic of the controversy: a woman at an event allegedly asked a torchbearer who he was so she could take a selfie, and was told, “I’m carrying the torch because my father knows certain sponsors". "Who should promote winter sports if not winter sports champions?" Fauner asked. Following the publication of the interview, the League party issued a harsh statement against the Milan–Cortina Foundation, responsible for organizing the Games, and against CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee. The party described the selection of torchbearers as "incomprehensible and disconcerting”, asserting that the omission of Italian sports legends is not only disrespectful but also politically short-sighted. Sports and Youth Minister Andrea Abodi also weighed in, admitting he was taken aback. "In light of what has emerged, I have already requested clarification from Milano-Cortina and CONI on the selection criteria adopted," Abodi commented. "In principle, it is clear that sporting legends, those who have made history, should be held in the highest regard." The minister underscored that the Olympic torch relay—comprising more than 10,000 torchbearers throughout Italy—should exemplify Olympic values through tangible demonstrations. From this perspective, former Olympians should have formed the core of the initiative. "These athletes have dedicated their lives to promoting sport in schools and communities", he said. "If the torch represents Olympic values, those values must emerge from actions, not just words".