Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned anti-Olympic demonstrators as "enemies of Italy" after violence on the sidelines of a demonstration in Milan on Saturday evening and sabotage attacks on the railway network. For its part, the International Olympic Committee also condemned these events and said that violence has no place in the games.

Published on: 02/08/2026 - 17:04

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the violence that followed a demonstration in Milan on Saturday evening. Like the International Olympic Committee, which denounced the events themselves, saying that violence has no place in the games.

The violence occurred on the first full day of the Winter Olympics, hosted by the city of Milan, the financial capital of Italy, and the Cortina d'Ampezzo resort in the Alps.

Meloni praised the thousands of Italians who she said were working to make the Olympic Games a success and present a positive image for their country.

“There are those who harbor hostility towards Italy and its people.”

She wrote on her Instagram account today, "There are those who harbor hostility towards Italy and its people. They are organizing demonstrations 'against the Olympic Games' and are making sure that these scenes are broadcast on television all over the world. After others sabotaged railway cables to stop the movement of trains."

To view this content from Instagram it is necessary to allow the collection of views and Instagram ads.

A group of about 100 protesters threw fireworks, smoke bombs, and bottles at the police after separating from a demonstration they participated in in Milan.

An estimated 10,000 took to the streets of Milan to protest housing costs and environmental concerns linked to the Games.

"There is no place for violence in the Olympic Games"

For his part, Mark Adams, spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, said in a press conference, “Peaceful protest is completely legitimate... but what we reject is violence. There is no place for that in the Olympic Games.”

He continued, saying, "We just need to move forward with the games that will send a strong message about unity and peace to the entire world, which I believe is extremely important at this time."

"Criminals and gang members"

The authorities reported on Saturday that saboteurs damaged railway infrastructure near the city of Bologna in northern Italy, disrupting train services.

Police also reported three separate incidents in different places, resulting in delays of up to two and a half hours for high-speed trains, intercity trains and regional services. While no party claimed responsibility for the damages.

Meloni said, "Once again, we declare our solidarity with the police, the city of Milan, and all those whose work will be undermined by what these criminals and gang members are doing."

France 24/Reuters

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.