The Italian Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Marco Peronaci, and Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast, hosted an event at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night to launch “The Road to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026”.
“With just over 100 days to go before the opening ceremony, we organized this event to invite all our American friends to Italy for the upcoming 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,” said Ambassador Peronaci. Recalling the words of the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, Ambassador Peronaci also pointed out that the Olympics are an extraordinary instrument of peace. This is why, he added, Italy is working to promote the Olympic truce ahead of next year’s Games.
U.S. sports broadcaster Mike Tirico, announcer of the Olympic Games on NBC, also delivered remarks at the event, along with Gene Sykes, Chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Comcast’s Mike Cavanagh emphasized the importance of the Olympics and sport events for Comcast NBCUniversal as the company that brings the Games home to millions of Americans. The coverage of the Winter Games will showcase Italian culture to countless American households, he added.
Martina Caironi, former Paralympic champion now involved with the Milano-Cortina Foundation, flew from Italy to highlight the culture and values of Italian sport. And U.S. Ambassador to Italy, H.E. Tilman Fertitta, participated in the evening with a video message. Reigning world champion American figure skater Ilia Malinin was also in attendance.
The reception at the Embassy, which featured tastings of Italian delicacies and dishes from Northern Italy provided by Washington’s own Cafe Milano, was enlivened by an impressive setting reminiscent of the Games and the beauty of the Italian mountains. The reception was attended by U.S. officials and members of Congress and staffers, top executives from major American and Italian companies, international officials, and numerous U.S. journalists and influencers.
