Pro-Palestinian activists stopped from disrupting Milan Cortina Olympics torch relay

ROME (AP) — Two groups of pro-Palestinian activists were prevented by authorities from making contact during the opening stages of the fair. Milan Cortina Winter Olympics torch relayItalian police said on Saturday.

Both groups, one of about 15 people, were driven away before reaching the transit route in Rome, police said.

A third group of about 10 people, watched by police, waved Palestinian flags as the relay passed in front of the city’s largest university, La Sapienza.

There were also three people near the American embassy carrying signs supporting Venezuela.

More than once in October two million demonstrators Marches were held in more than 100 Italian cities to protest the war in Gaza.

Olympic champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri started the relay at the statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi, and the torch was carried for 33 kilometers (20 miles) before ending the day in Piazza del Popolo.

The relay will cover 12,000 kilometers (about 7,500 miles) and pass through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6.

There will be 10,001 torch bearers in total.

The next stops of the torch relay will be Viterbo on Sunday and Terni on Monday.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics