An appeal from Italian President Sergio Mattarella set the tone for the opening of the 145th session of the International Olympic Committee, held at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala just days before the start of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games on February 6.

Calling for the Olympic Truce to be respected worldwide, Mattarella urged that “the unarmed force of sport silence weapons.” Speaking from one of Italy’s most iconic cultural venues, he addressed a world marked by wars and deep fractures that, he said, “darken the conscience of peoples.”

Mattarella described sport as the antithesis of violence and exclusion, a universal language capable of fostering dialogue, respect, and hope. The Olympic Games, he noted, are not merely about competition but represent a global event that embodies fraternity through fair challenge, standing in contrast to a world increasingly defined by division and incomprehension.

From Milan and Cortina to Bormio, Livigno, and Verona - host city of the Paralympic opening - sport, he said, can serve as a vehicle for peace and mutual understanding.

The message was echoed by other speakers throughout the evening. Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio described the Olympic Movement as “an eternal beacon of peace and unity,” capable of “building harbors where others erect barriers.” Even amid global instability, he said, the Olympic flame “does not flicker—it shines brighter.”

Organizing Committee president Giovanni Malagò linked the universal values of Olympism to Italy’s cultural excellence. La Scala, he said, symbolizes a language that transcends borders, mirroring the universality of the IOC. Milan-Cortina 2026 thus emerges not only as a sporting event but as a global showcase of Italy’s art, landscapes, craftsmanship, and hospitality—spanning 22,000 kilometers across two cities, two regions, and two autonomous provinces.

Closing the session, IOC President Kirsty Coventry spoke of the palpable excitement already felt among athletes in Olympic villages and across Milan. Thanking Italy and its institutions, she said the Games will offer athletes the chance to “shine on a legendary stage” and inspire the world through excellence and emotion.