End of Milan Games: French Alps Take Over Olympic Torch

The closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Verona Arena served as a symbolic bridge between Italy and France. The mayors of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo handed over the Olympic flag to the IOC, which was then passed to the French delegation. The French Alps will host the Games in 2030, which was announced with great enthusiasm by President Emmanuel Macron. However, his optimism was met with a cool reception from part of the public on social media, where critics pointed out his focus on prestigious projects in the face of the country's internal problems and the progressing climate crisis. The tradition of passing the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony dates back to the 1920 Antwerp Games. It is a key moment in the protocol that officially ends a given Olympic cycle and begins a four-year preparation period for the next host, emphasizing the continuity of the sports movement. While athletes, including the numerous award-winning French delegation, celebrated their return home in Albertville, demonstrations took place outside the walls of the arena in Verona. Several hundred Italians protested against the 'Olympic shame,' denouncing the high costs of organizing the event and its negative impact on the natural environment of the Alps. Amid the sporting emotions, there is also concern about the course of the 2026 Paralympics due to the tense geopolitical situation and Ukraine's announced boycott of the opening ceremony in protest against the presence of Russian national symbols. French organizers already face challenges, planning innovative solutions such as holding hockey matches in football stadiums to minimize infrastructure costs. Albertville, where the welcome ceremony for French medalists from Milan took place, hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1992. The return of the Olympic flag to this region after nearly 40 years has historical and sentimental significance for the French. Despite the controversies, the sporting balance sheet of the Milan Games is rated highly. The Polish team, driven by the successes of ski jumper Kacper Tomasiak, ended its campaign with optimism. Meanwhile, American athletes, such as figure skater Ilia Malinin, used the time after their events to draw attention to mental health issues. Malinin, despite sporting disappointment, became the face of the fight against online hate on social media, giving the debate around the Games a deeper, social dimension. Now the world's attention shifts to the French Alps, where in four years athletes will once again compete for medals under the shadow of increasingly difficult weather conditions.