The closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games took place in Verona, where Giorgia Meloni celebrated the event's success, while a protest against the Olympics was also organized.
The closing ceremony for the Olympic Games held in Milan-Cortina took place at the Arena in Verona, marking an edition deemed to be record-breaking and a source of national pride for Italy. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, expressed her sentiments on social media, stating that the Olympics provided unforgettable emotions and a lasting sense of pride for the Italian people. The successful completion of the Games has been presented as a global triumph that puts Italy in the limelight on the international stage.
However, alongside the celebratory events, there was also a demonstration against the Olympics organized by various leftist groups under the banner 'Rete Olimpiadi No Grazie Veronà. This included participation from organizations such as Rifondazione Comunista and others advocating for social causes. The protest march was heavily policed to prevent any violent incidents similar to those that occurred at the opening of the Games in Milan, ensuring the security of both the ceremony and the demonstration.
The juxtaposition of Meloni's celebration of the Games' success and the protests reveals a concurrent discourse in Italy regarding major events and their impact on local communities and national identity. As the dust settles on the Olympic festivities, the contrasting views highlight the ongoing debates about the implications of hosting such international events, particularly in relation to public sentiment and community concerns, which will likely resonate within political discussions in Italy for some time to come.
