Italian Ambassador to the United States, Marco Peronaci, hosted an event at the embassy on Wednesday evening dedicated to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The event was organized by the embassy with NBC Universal, the broadcaster with exclusive television rights to the Olympics in the United States. “With nearly 100 days to go until the opening ceremony, we organized this event to invite all our American friends to Italy for the next Winter Olympics, which will be an opportunity to enjoy the hospitality, creativity, and beauty of our beautiful Italy, from Milan to Cortina, passing through all the other numerous locations that will host competitions,” Ambassador Peronaci began.
Recalling the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Peronaci emphasized how the Olympics are an extraordinary instrument of peace. This is why, he added, Italy is working to promote the Olympic truce.
The evening was also an opportunity to celebrate the second edition of the Italian Sports Day in the World and the commitment of the entire Italian system in the United States to sports diplomacy initiatives. The testimony of Martina Caironi, a former Paralympic champion now working with the Milan-Cortina Foundation, highlighted the culture and values of Italian sport.
The event, hosted by Mike Tirico, one of the most well-known sports journalists in the United States and a longtime NBC personality, also featured speakers Gene Sykes, president of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Michael Cavanagh, president of Comcast, the American telecommunications giant and owner of NBC. Cavanagh emphasized the importance of the Olympics in the television programming of the group’s networks, which will represent an extraordinary showcase for Italy in the American market.
The reception held at the embassy, which featured tastings of typical northern Italian products and dishes and featured a striking setting reminiscent of the Games and the beauty of the Italian mountains, was attended by prominent members of the US Congress and Administration, top figures from major American and Italian companies, international officials, and numerous American journalists and influencers.