Federica Brignone wins the bronze in the giant slalom, Bassino comes 5th, Moelgg 8th and Goggia 11th
- ALPINE SKIING
Bronze 10000m medal for Nicola Tumolero. 5th Italian medal at the Olympics
- SPEED SKATING
First gold for Italy thanks to a monumental Arianna Fontana. The Olympic legend triumphs in the 500 metres
- SHORT TRACK
The Olympic rings have more than left their mark on her heart. They are the distinctive and ineffaceable token of her wonderful and successful story. Italian short track queen, Arianna Fontana won gold in the 500 metres at Gangneung Ice Arena, giving Italy its second medal at PyeongChang2018 and climbing onto the Olympic podium for the fourth consecutive time. From Turin 2006 (mixed bronze) and Vancouver (bronze), to Sochi (two bronze and one silver) and now South Korea, she is up there with the Olympic greats. This time, the most prized medal was placed around her neck, the one she was yet to win: Italy returned to the highest step of the podium after a dormant 8 years (the last win being Vancouver 2010 with Giuliano Razzoli in the slalom).
Flagbearer, the youngest ever Italian winter medalwinner, the first Ice Sports Olympian, the icon of a movement revolving around her talent, this charming champion with her special smile cuts no corners on the track. Tonight, first she dominated the quarter finals, winning her heat; then she was the protagonist in a wild semi-final where she bested her personal record (42"635 against her time of 42"829 in Salt Lake City in November 2016), losing out only to Korean Choi, capable of reaching the Olympic record (42"422). Then came the final, full of adrenaline and heightened emotions. The stuff of pure, monumental champions. Fearless, Arianna led from the word go, again improving her PB (42"569). It is a tale to be told: right behind her were Dutch van Kerkhof and Canadian Boutin, home athlete Choi having been disqualified. An Italian party, the first in Korea. It wears the face of the flagbearer: Arianna, a star - green, white and red - turned legend.
Federico Pellegrino wins silver in the Sprint Classic
- CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
He fought and fought, and in the end, he won out. The silver medal that Federico Pellegrino won today is further proof of a great champion. In the cross-country sprint, in his lesser-preferred classic technique, the Italian utilised his every resource, every tactic, every minimal retreat of his opponents, anything to reach the podium. And he did it.
The gold medal was won by Norwegian Klaebo in 3'05"75, but Federico, at a photo finish, defeated OAR athlete Bolshunov with 3'07"09 against 3'07"11.
IOC President Thomas Bach visits the CONI Communication Office
- MAIN PRESS CENTRE
This afternoon, the IOC President, Thomas Bach, visited the CONI Communication and Media Relations Office, transferred for this edition of the Winter Olympic Games to the Main Press Centre in PyeongChang. Welcomed by the Head of Communication, Danilo di Tommaso, Bach chatted with Italian Olympic Committee staff, confirming a visit in the next couple of days to Casa Italia, the meeting point of the Italian mission in Korea.
Pescante and the North-Korean Chang Ung at Casa Italia. "We are united by a solid friendship"
- MEETING OF IOC MEMBERS
Casa Italia confirms its status as the centre of the world in the name of brotherhood and unity promoted by sport. And so the meeting point of the Italian mission in PyeongChang, after having hosted a mixed taekwondo team composed of North and South Korean athletes, today received the visit of the North Korean IOC member, Chang Ung.
Former President of the International Taekwondo Federation, Chang Ung arrived at Casa Italia together with the IOC member and representative of the International Olympic Committee at the UN, Mario Pescante (photo: Pagliaricci GMT). We are united by a friendship stretching far back in time - explained Pescante -. Before the UN sanctions, we hosted their youth soccer team in Coverciano for four years and one of those guys, Kwang Song Han currently plays in Italy. The only rude thing he did to me in Korea was to show me the monument to Pak Doo-Ik who threw us out of the World Cup in 1966. I want to thank him for his visit. So far, he has not met any foreign press representatives except those of our country ".
During his visit, Chang Ung underlined his ties with Italy and the long and deep friendship that binds him to Pescante and expressed his appreciation for the design and cuisine of the meeting point of the Italian mission in these Winter Olympic Games.
To the reporters Chang Ung went on to reiterate the importance of sport in the dialogue between the two Koreas which, at the opening ceremony of the Games, paraded together under a single flag and which are competing together in some of the Olympic sports.
“In these Games – he said - we have seen a united Korean ice hockey squad and I hope that this can be extended, because the Olympics and sport outweigh any difference between us. Sport, but also art, dance and music surpass politics".
First medal for Italy at the Games: Windisch takes the bronze in the 10 km sprint
- BIATHLON
The biathlon brought Italy its first medal in the 23rd edition of the Winter Olympic Games. This bronze feat bears the signature of Dominik Windisch in the 10 km sprint: the Italian closed with a time of 23'46"5 (a mistake), in the race won by the German Peiffer in 23'38"8 ahead of the athlete of the Czech Republic, Krcmar. This is Windisch’s second Olympic bronze medal after a third place in Sochi 2014 in the mixed relay.
Men's Olympic downhill to be rescheduled due to strong winds
- ALPINE SKIING
The alpine skiing events of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, were scheduled to kick off on Sunday with the highly anticipated men’s downhill. Very strong winds, with gusts up to 72 kilometers per hour, that are forecasted to continue have forced the jury together with POCOG to postpone the event as originally scheduled in Jeongseon Alpine Centre.
The Alpine skiing men’s downhill event slated for 11:00 today (Sunday 11 February) has been rescheduled for 11:00 on 15 February due to strong wind. The men’s super-G slated for 11:00 on 15 February has been rescheduled for 11:00 on 16 February.
At Casa Italia the two Koreas united by taekwondo. Malagò: an event that makes us proud
- THE PERFORMANCE
Casa Italia, centre of the world in the name of brotherhood. The evocative meeting point of the Italian mission in PyeongChang became - this morning - the scene of a special encounter, able to underline the value of sport as a universal instrument of dialogue and peace. The exhibition by a representation of South Korean taekwondo athletes - in the presence of two North Korean athletes - reaffirmed the message that had already emerged during the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympic Games. The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, and the Secretary General, Roberto Fabbricini, in the presence of the CEO of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, - thanks to the initiative promoted by the President of the Italian Taekwondo Federation, Angelo Cito - welcomed the President of the World Taekwondo Federation, Choue Chungwon, and the President of the ITF, Ri Yongson: handshakes, smiles, common intentions to symbolize the closeness between the two Koreas, ideally blurring tensions of a political nature. Among the other Italian IOC members were Mario Pescante and Ivo Ferriani, the President of ASOIF, Francesco Ricci Bitti, as well as other members of the International Olympic Committee, Ivan Dibos (Peru), and Phillip Walter Coles (Australia).
Malagò thanked the delegations present and reiterated the importance of the event. We are proud that Casa Italia is promoting this great event and even more happy to celebrate its significance. Together with Angelo Cito, we invite everyone present to participate in the Taekwondo World Grand Prix, in early June, in the splendid setting of the Parco del Foro Italico".
The President of the WTF, Choue Chungwon, spoke with satisfaction "of the wonderful opportunity for sharing; yesterday, President Moon spoke of the Peace Games. In this dramatic moment for our countries we decided to unite the two teams and our motto is that peace is much more valuable than victory" and Ri Yong Song Song, President of ITF and of North Korea, emphasized "we are all Koreans, look at our faces". Yesterday, the whole world saw the two Koreas united. Taekwondo means peace and harmony. The Olympics is an event of peace. It is exciting for us that it is taking place in Korea.
The morning closed with an impressive performance attended by two North Korean athletes, Kim Kwangju and Ri Sukhyang. I am very excited about this meeting between our countries", said Ri SukHyang, who attended the Korean parade at the opening ceremony. "For me it is the second time in South Korea - added Kim Kwang Ju - and it has been exciting".
PyeongChang 2018 opens in pursuit of peace. Fontana: With this flag, I fear nothing
- THE XXIII WINTER GAMES ARE UNDERWAY
An Olympic Games in the pursuit of peace, with the Olympic torch warming a frosty PyeongChang. The XXIII Winter Olympic Games opened with a grand party, which, through sport, will resonate through the Korean peninsula until 25 February (the date of the closing ceremony).
Following the Korean alphabet, Italy made its entrance into the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in 59th place, just before 9pm local time, after Iran and before Israel. Up front was flagbearer Arianna Fontana, the fluttering Tricolore held by the skater, forerunner of the Italian delegation led by Head of Mission and Vice Secretary General of CONI, Carlo Mornati. “With this flag in my hand, I fear nothing,” commented our standard bearer in the heat of the moment.
“It was utterly emotional. I was a little worried before the entrance because the wind was crazy. Before entering I shouted if the guys were ready and they yelled right back at me. We’re all so ready for this big adventure. Tomorrow I’m on the track in the first races and I’ll give it my all.”
Cheering, the Italian group included around 50 athletes from the two Olympic Villages of PyeongChang and Gangneung: the men and women alpine skiers, women ski jumpers, the Nordic combined team, the men and women cross-country skiers, some biathlon youngsters, the Italian curlers, the men and women figure and speed skaters and around 20 coaches and officials. With its elegant uniforms designed by Giorgio Armani, the delegation led Italy to the centre of the world, in an evening that officially opened the Olympics.
In the stands were IOC President Thomas Bach, sat next to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the entire Olympic Family and the representatives of the 91 participating Committees (the delegation of Olympic Athletes from Russia was still to parade). ([images/PyeongChang-2018-Opening-Ceremony-Flagbearers.pd.pdf]the list of all flagbearers here) For Italy, the CONI President Giovanni Malagò, the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini, the Minister for Sport, Luca Lotti and the Italian Ambassador for Seoul, Marco Della Seta. And more Italian IOC members: Franco Carraro, Ivo Ferriani and Manuela Di Centa, ex-member and current President of the ASOIF, Francesco Ricci Bitti and the MD of CONI Servizi, Alberto Miglietta.
Tomorrow the first medals will be awarded ([it/azzurri-in-gara/ingaradettaglio.html?giorno=2018-02-10]Italian athletes competing here), but tonight, braving glacial temperatures and wind, the entire Olympic movement launched its universal message: sport can unite and overcome any border or barrier, even the 38th parallel north separating North and South Korea.
A ceremony that emphasised the history and tradition of the Asian peninsula, without forgoing the opportunity to look towards the future, which told the adventure of five children and a white tiger (Soohorang, a protector of peace and PyeongChang 2018 mascot). Spectators were projected along a journey towards peace, illuminated by the light of the universe, and as explosive and contagious as fireworks. A play of lights announced the entrance, under a unified flag, of the North and South Korean athletes – a seal of peace. As was the performance, before the ceremony, of a mixed Taekwondo team.
Sport will unite, and the Olympic dream belongs to all of humanity, encouraged by the Olympic Flame lit this evening.
PyeongChang2018 opening ceremony. Fontana: with this flag, I fear nothing
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