Just over 200 days before the Games begin, the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto hosted the final stop of the International Roadshow for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The event took place on Friday evening in the prestigious setting of Toronto’s Distillery District, at the initiative of Consul General Luca Zelioli and in collaboration with the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) and the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT S.p.A.).
The evening, which featured the participation of the Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, and the CEO of the Milano Cortina Foundation, Andrea Varnier, was a high-level institutional occasion aimed at strengthening the longstanding and deep-rooted sporting ties between Italy and Canada and reaffirming Milano Cortina 2026’s commitment to a lasting cultural, social, and infrastructural legacy.
Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee and IOC member, offered an institutional perspective from the Olympic movement, while Karen O’Neill, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, shared Canada’s strong commitment to promoting inclusion and accessibility in sport.
The event was further enriched by the testimonies of athletes: Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, a promising Canadian figure skating duo, and Tyler McGregor, captain of the national para ice hockey team, shared their experiences, sacrifices, and enthusiasm for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy.
The evening concluded with the screening of La Valanga Azzurra, a documentary produced by Fandango and Luce Cinecittà in collaboration with Rai Documentari, dedicated to the extraordinary achievements of the legendary Italian ski team of the 1970s.
