On Saturday, Italian police effectively blocked pro-Palestinian activists from disrupting the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay, a cherished Olympic tradition. Authorities reported that demonstrators were kept away from the transit route in Rome before they could make their presence felt.
A smaller group of around ten individuals was observed waving Palestinian flags as the torch passed the La Sapienza university. Interestingly, three others were near the U.S. embassy, displaying signs in support of Venezuela.
Back in October, a significant protest took place in Italy with over two million people rallying in more than a hundred cities against the ongoing war in Gaza.
The event began at the Stadio dei Marmi, marked by Olympic champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri lighting the torch. It traveled 32 kilometers, concluding the day at Piazza del Popolo. The relay, which will stretch about 7,500 miles, will visit all 110 Italian regions before reaching Milan’s San Siro stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6th.
The total number of torchbearers for this relay is set to be 10,001. The next stops will be Viterbo on Sunday and Terni on Monday.
Incidents of pro-Palestinian protests disrupting sports events, particularly those involving Israeli teams, have grown more frequent over the last year. For instance, last month saw arrests at an Indian soccer match featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv, where Israeli fans were barred from attending due to safety worries, yet riots ensued nearby.
Additionally, concerns about potential disruptions have led to the withdrawal of the Israeli cycling team from the upcoming Giro dell’Emilia race in Italy. This decision came after protests interrupted the Spanish Vuelta, resulting in the shortening or cancellation of several racing days.
The protesting groups stated their actions are aimed at condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
